152 



FARxMERS' REGISTER. 



No. 3 



sap-wood ofthe scion ; and a like adjustmentimust 

 be observed between Ihe inner hark of both, 

 through which the sap descends Irom the graft to 

 the stock, after it lias been elaborated in the 

 leaves. Without the first precaution, tlie ^;ap will 

 not reach the gral't. which will consc(iuently shri- 

 vel and die. Without the last, the grail cannot 

 knit or unite to the stock ; for it is the descending 

 sap which forms the new wood, and which indeed 

 causes the graft to send its roots down into the 

 earth, upon the outside of the wood, but under the 

 bark of the stock. The union can only take place 

 after the sap has begun to circulate in the stock, 

 which is when the buds are bursting. The clay 

 or composition is applied to exclude the drying in- 

 fluence of the air and sun, and also rain, tiom the 

 wound, until a complete union has taken place. 

 The graft does not become injured by being some- 

 what shrivelled before it is inserted ; but if it ap- 

 pears too much so, it may be buried a few hours 

 in moist earth before used. The compositions 

 used as substitutes lor clay are man3'. A good 

 one is one part tallow, two parts beeswax, and lour 

 parts rosin, melted and incorporated like shoema- 

 ker's wa.x. If the weather is cold this will require 

 to be sollencd by immersing it a time in warm wa- 

 ter. A thin layer of this covering the end of the 

 stock and the slit, will sufTice. With the addition 

 of a little more tallow, the composition may be 

 spread upon linen or cotton cloth, when warm, and 

 the cloth cut to the required size for a graft, and 

 applied wiih less trouble in the Ibrm of a prepared 

 plaster. The different processes of grafting are so 

 generally known that we need not detail them; 

 our object bemg only to throw out such sugges- 

 tions as may tend to render the success ofthe ope- 

 ration more certain. 



The following is the account of Mr. Robinson, 

 of Porlsmouih, N. H., of his method of perform- 

 ing the operation : 



" Persons intending fo graft or inoculate to good 

 advantage, should in August procure their scions 

 containing their buts and grafts. It is well to have 

 for their better preservation, a portion ofthe larger 

 limbs connected with them. If taken off imme- 

 diately, they must be thrown, when bundled up 

 and labelled, under the north side of your thick 

 yard or garden fence, where they will be secure, 

 if exposed to the influence ofthe atmosphere; 

 having an eye in case of too warm and dry wea- 

 ther, they are not too much exposed. If so, just 

 enter their but ends under the surface ofthe earth. 

 This method is better than covering them up bo- 

 dily, or keeping them in a cellar. 



" Experience has taught me that there is a great 

 advantage in procuring cuttings in this way, over 

 the practice of neglecting till too lalo. 1 shall 

 now attempt to show the best method to manage 

 a nursery, as to securing good fruit in the most 

 economical and speedy manner. To do this, 

 grafting and inoculating is my text. The nursery 

 is supposed to have been judiciously managed, 

 and of one year's growth from the seed. Of 

 course the plants are li-om one to two feet high, 

 and as large as a Dutch quill ; some much larger. 

 All of this size never will be more fit to bud. 

 There should be no delay. These little young 

 trees have their peculiarly smooth and pliable 

 bark ; they are very thrifty, and consequently may 

 be budded somewhat later than others of a different 

 character. A nursery in this sttige may be most 



advantageously budded. If Ihe operation be skil- 

 ful, they will take; and if otherwise, they receive 

 no perceptible injury. The advantages of early 

 budding are numerous and great. First, the job 

 contemplated is over: you cannot have any unea- 

 siness about it from any delays. Your trees are in 

 a much better slate for coming to perfection ; they 

 will thrive n)uch better, notwithstanding they are 

 cut oft' from two fo four indies from the ground 

 during the season; they will far oul-grov/ the 

 others in size and height, they also grow more 

 erect and free from craggy twigs, a great saving 

 in pruning. The improvenlenr in their appear- 

 ance is admirable. Picture to yourself trees from 

 the nurseries such as I have received, and at full 

 prices, with old stocks, half closed over, and bud- 

 ded two to three feet from the ground. The con- 

 trast is great. 



" The disadvantage from suffering nurseries to 

 remain till a number of years old, before budded, 

 is obvious. The wound necessary for the bud, in 

 thick and old bark, and especially if the bud does 

 take, is of some injury. The cutting off the large 

 old stock, leaving the bud alone while the stock is 

 closed over — meantime the quantity of roots with- 

 out a top in proportion, are great checks, and of 

 much injury to the growth ofthe plant; and most 

 ultimately affect the growth and healih ofthe tree. 

 " I make these remarks from the authority of 

 my own experience in inoculating a nursery in its 

 different slagesas above described. 



•'I shall now attempt to describe my process 

 in budding. I was instructed to strike a hori- 

 zontal cut through the bark, with a sharp knife, 

 at a suitable place, on the norih side of the stock ; 

 striking fi-om this a perpendicular cut about an 

 inch long, opening the bark with a knife or some' 

 instrument for the purpose ; then taking a bud 

 li'om the scion, having a care to take otl' a small 

 portion of wood with the bud — then carellilly ta- 

 king away the wood, leaving the stem or eye of 

 the bud whole and smooth — then thrusting in the 

 bud with a due proportion oflbaik, three-fourths 

 of an inch long, and half as wide. The bark 

 of the but to be thrust in Iree from the bark of 

 the stock above — then closing over the bark of 

 the bud with that of the stock, binding it care- 

 fully, with elm or bass rind, or with coarse vvool- 

 len yarn. This process has not yet proved per- 

 fect ; it has with me olten failed. I have sought 

 for a more perfesct and sure process. Accordingly 

 I have varied, as my judgment has led me, for a 

 better method. I have found that instead of 

 striking a horizontal, it is best to cut quite a slo- 

 ping stroke, splitting down from this slope perpen- 

 dicularly so slow as^ to admit the bud, taking off 

 in an oval shape, in the same careful manner as 

 above described ; having a care to preserve a lit- 

 tle wood at the eye of the bud as I had in taking 

 it away in the former process. The bud then is 

 to be thrust under the raised bark, down so low 

 as to admit the bark ofthe stock to come in its 

 former place, above Ihe bud, f()r half an inch, 

 where it imniediatelj' receives its usual nourish- 

 ment ; being bound up with coarse woollen yarn, 

 which I prefer to any thing else. In winding on 

 the yarn, I am carelul to draw it gently over the 

 wound, omitting to cover the bud till the last, over 

 whicli I then draw the yarn very softly. In this 

 process, every part works so natural' and so smooth, 

 that if unbound the next day, it would be difficult 



