AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



227 



bear thrs treatment and make a full head of young sprouts, as 

 Fig. 108 B. But there is much risk of killing the tree if it 

 be old or feeble ; the ends of the limbs seldom heal so well as 

 if they had been crown grafted (see page 233), and even after 

 buds or grafts have taken in such a tree, if at all neglected, 

 they are apt to be overgrown and destroyed by the sprouts. 



But in all largetree grafting it is highly important to give 

 careful after-treatment, as directed page 240. 



PREPARATION OP GRAFTS. 

 " .,v'r Fig. 109. 



a. Graft Scion. 



b. Grafts cut to proper length. 



Scions for making grafts are taken from the young shoots of 

 the previous year's growth, rejecting the older wood, as well 

 as any blossom-buds that may have formed upon the younger ; 

 these are known by their round fullness, and are sometimes 

 chosen to gratify a fancy for producing a fruit from the graft 

 or bud the first year ; but the growth is always injured, and the 

 tree sometimes lost by the operation, which thus becomes too 

 expensive. They should be taken from the tree before the ap- 

 proach of spring, and either buried in sand or earth, or placed 

 butts downward in a small pit or grave on the north side of a 

 fence or building, and having sufficient straw packed over 

 them and alongside them to keep them from drying out or be- 

 coming dirty, except the butts, which, resting upon the bot- 

 tom, will obtain sufficient moisture to keep them fresh. When 

 taken out for use, let them be washed clean and cut up into 



