154 



PLANT PROPAGATION 



their lower portion and leaves from their upper portion when both 

 ends may be to every human sense exactly alike, is a mystery. 



Tt does not follow from these propositions that graftage is a de- 

 sirable method of multiplying plants, but simply that direct and 

 positive evidence is needed. Much has been said concerning the 

 merits of graftage. Opponents have made sweeping statements of 

 the perniciousness of the system. Discussion started in. an English 

 journal from an editorial which opened as follows. 



4. Waxing, 

 broken off. 



FIG. 135 STAGES OF CLEFT GRAFTING 



Sawing limb to form stock. 2. Making the cleft. 3. Placing the cions. 

 5. Cion growing. In this case both cions grew, but one was accidentally 



"We doubt if there is a greater nuisance in the whole practice 

 of gardening than the art of grafting. It is very clever, it is very 

 interesting, but it will be no .great loss if it is abolished altogether. 

 It is for the convenience of the nurserymen that it is done in nine 

 cases out of ten, and in nearly all instances it is not only needless, 

 but harmful. ... If we made the nurserymen give us things on 

 their own roots, they would find some quick means of doing so." 



For two years discussion continued, and many excellent observers 

 took part. Some of the denunciations of graftage are [condensed 

 and the statements of various writers run together] as follows: 



