OF FRUIT TREES. .41 



measure in circumference from the size of a shilling 

 to about that of a crown piece. Some of the branch- 

 es must of course be taken off where they are a little 

 larger, and some smaller, to preserve the canopy or 

 head of the tree ; and it will be necessary to take out 

 the branches which cross others, and observe the arms 

 are left to fork off, so that no considerable opening is 

 to be perceived when you stand under the tree, but 

 that they may represent a uniform head. When pre- 

 paring the tree, leave the blanches sufficiently long to 

 allow of two or three inches to be taken off by the 

 saw, that all the splintered parts may be removed. 

 The tree being thus prepared, put in one or two grafts 

 at the extremity of each branch, and put on the ce- 

 ment or composition, and tie with bass or soft strings. 

 Sever the shoots or suckers from the tree until the 

 succeeding spring. To make good the deficiency in 

 case some grafts do not succeed, additional grafts may 

 he inserted in the sides of the branches, or where they 

 are wanted to form the tree into a handsome shape." 

 It too frequently happens that a considerable propor- 

 tion of the scions inserted fail of taking effect, and we 

 are disappointed in our expectations. There must be 

 a cause for this failure. Too much heat and dryness 

 in the atmosphere, or too much cold and moisture, 

 may interrupt this vegetable process. If the scions 

 are suffered to become dry and withered, their vital 

 principle will be lost; if saturated with moisture, they 

 cannot so readily imbibe the nutritious juice by which 

 their union with the stock is cemented. Much de- 

 pends on a proper coaptation of the barks of the stock 

 and the scion, and the nature of the composition ap- 

 plied, is not without Us influence. When tar and 

 turpentine are employed, their volatile oil, unless 

 qualified by some admixture, is supposed to penetrate 

 into the vessels of the scion, obstruct the circulation 

 of the sap, and cause mortification. Among our re- 



