MARCH.] THE NURRSERY. 249 



one or two of the buds of each cion appear ; look to them frequent- 

 ly, and if the earth sinks so as to expose the crowns of the stocks, 

 cover them up again. 



When the cions are sufficiently taken, clear off the earth, un- 

 bind the bandages, and then replace it as before. Trees grafted in 

 this way, may afterwards be trained up, either for standards, half 

 standards, espaliers, or wall trees, at pleasure. 



It sometimes happens that persons are under the necessity, in 

 spring, of removing some stocks, when in the way of other busi- 

 ness ; in which case, they are frequently taken into the house, and 

 grafted in any method most convenient, then planted immediately: 

 this is called by gardeners fire-side grafting, and often proves tole- 

 rably successful j but I would not recommend it, except in cases of 

 necessity. 



Grafting by Afifiroach, or Inarching. 



This method of grafting is performed only, when the stock, and 

 the tree from which you mean to propagate, either grow, or can 

 be placed so near each other, that the intended graft may be 

 brought to approach and join the stock ; forming therewith, when 

 grafted, a kind of arch, and not to be separated from the mother 

 plant, till a perfect union is formed : hence its name. 



When intended to propagate any tree or shrub, by this method ; 

 if of a hardy nature, and growing in the open ground, the requi- 

 site quantity of young plants for stocks should be planted round it, 

 and when grown of a proper size or height, the work performed : 

 or, if the branches of the tree designed to graft from, are too high 

 for the stocks, these must be planted in pots, (if a year previous 

 to the operation the better) and placed upon a temporary stage 

 erected round the tree, of sufficient height to answer the purpose. 



In performing this work, make choice of a smooth part of the 

 stock, and with which the intended graft can be conveniently 

 brought to meet, marking on each the place of junction ; then cut 

 away the bark and a part of the wood, from two to three inches in 

 length, both of the stock and cion ; after which, make a slit up- 

 wards in the cion, so as to form a tongue, and another downwards 

 in the stock, as directed for whip-grafting, and insert the one into 

 the other, making all parts fit in an exact manner, particularly 

 the rinds or barks, and tie them closely together with bass ; after 

 which, cover the whole with a due quantity of grafting clay, as di- 

 rected in the other methods. In this mode of grafting, the cion is 

 not separated from the tree, until it is firmly united with the stock, 

 nor is the head of the latter, generally, cut off, till this time, 

 though it is sometimes performed with the head of the stock cut 

 off, under the idea that its whole efforts would then be directed 

 to the nourishment of the graft, which is not of as much advantage 

 as might be imagined. 



If the plants which you inarch, are exposed to strong winds, it 

 will be proper to make them fast, either to stakes stuck into the 



Kk 



