120 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



compound of olive and grape, hence the name Elaistaphylos, that 

 is, olive-grapes." 



" I have seen," says Florentinus, " a tree of this description in 

 the garden of Marius Maximus. This olive-grape can also be 

 reproduced from cuttings. Any species of trees can be grafted 

 into the quince or wild fig. When a young vine is too full of 

 fruit, thin it out, for this process improves the size and quality 

 of the remaining fruit. To produce stoneless fruit, split in the 

 middle the part of a cutting, take out the pith, tie up the two 

 parts carefully, and set out the slip. You can also, on the head 

 of a tree, take out the pith without splitting the stock, and care- 

 fully insert a peg in its place. This method refers chiefly to 

 grape, peach, and cherry. To bring a barren tree into bearing, 

 gird up your loins, roll up your sleeves, then take hold of an axe 

 or mattock, and being full of wrath approach the tree as if intend- 

 ing to cut it down. Let some one come up to you and beg you 

 not to cut it down, pledging himself at the same time that it will 

 do better next year. Then you, appearing to grant this man's 

 request, will spare the tree, which after this will become a great 

 bearer." 



The Object of Grafting in the first place is to perpetuate and 

 multiply and in the shortest possible time, all our choice fruit and 

 ornamental trees and shrubs of value, that do not quickly repro- 

 duce themselves from seed or are difficult to grow from cuttings. 

 Nearly all our named varieties of trees and many of the shrubs 

 are propagated by grafting, so that they may the sooner become 

 plentiful as well as a source of income. Should we resort to the 

 propagation of our pears, peaches, plums, apples, and other fruits 

 by cuttings and layers, it would take us many years to reap the 

 benefit of our labors ; and many would go hungry while they were 

 waiting for the orchards of Bartletts, Seckels, Angoulemes, and 

 other pears, as well as the Baldwins and many other apples ; or 

 the plums, cherries, peaches, and various other fruits. Yet this 

 idea was vigorously advocated a few years ago, both in England 

 and America by those who wanted " nothing but own root trees." 

 Even if it were practicable, which I have reason to doubt, it would 

 not be profitable and I do not know of any one wlio has planted 

 orchards of our standard fruit trees from cuttings, and gathered 

 fruit from them. Old, or otherwise worthless trees can be 

 regrafted with new or more desirable kinds, and in a few years 



