riiOi*A.OAT10X.] 



PRACTICE OF IIOKTICULTUKE. [is-ABcnixa xtc. 



PROPAGATING BY IN- ARCHING AND CUT- 



TINGS. 



In-arching ia auppoaecl to have been the 

 most ancient kind of j;r;it"tini^, as it naturally 

 ami by accident takes placo in IbrL'sta. Tlio 

 point iu which it stands distinct from Rralt- 

 iug, ia found in the scion not beiuj; cut or 

 separated from the parent, but remains 

 attached to it, nntil it becomes part and par- 

 cel of the stock to which it is tied and 

 adapted iu a variety of ways. The scion and 

 stock are, accordingly, mutually independent 

 of each other, the former subsisting on ite 

 own resources until a complete union takes 

 place between them. Professor Thowine enu 



at one operation, or only partially cut through 

 first, and, in a few days, completely severed. 

 A week or two after tho union has taken 

 place, tho remaining portion of tho scion, if 

 any is left on, when separated from tho 

 parent plant, should be cut oli' close to tho 

 stock, that the wound may heal over, and leave 

 tho stem as [)erlect as possible. ISidc in-arching 

 without tonguing ia well adapted for young 

 shoots of camel ias, oranges, &c. ; and when 

 the wood of both scion and stock is soft and 

 lull of sap, a union speedily takes place. 

 Tongue in-arching is useful when both or 

 either stock or scion are more fully matured, 

 and are somewhat hard and dry." 



Propagation by cuttings is, with tho ei- 



nierates no less than thirty-seven varieties of i ception of grafting, by far the m^st common of 



this mode of propagation. Practical gar- 

 deners, however, reduce these to two, which 

 are thus defined by Mr. Mackintosh: — Crown 

 in-arching, which consists of cutting oft' the 

 head at the time of operating ; side in- arching, 

 which retains the head for a certain time. 



all the modes of artificial plant culture, and de- 

 pends upon its success from tho circumstance 

 of the cuttings themselves bearing leaf-buds or 

 eyes upon their surface. In bo far as physio- 

 logical science can explain the operation of 

 propagation by cuttings, Dr. Lindley states, 



For performing these operations, generally, . that '* it appears that roots are formed by the 

 the spring is the proper season ; but any j action of leaves ; that branches are developed 

 season wlien the sap is iu suitable condition, ! from the buds ; and that the buds are main- 

 as it may be in hot-houses, will serve for the | tained by the suitable aliment stored up in 

 purpose. 



as that of grafting, by inducing an earlier 

 disposition to the bearing of fruit. It may, 

 likewise, be applied to plants vrhich may be 

 difficult to propagate by other means. In 

 order that in-arching may be the more certainly 

 accomplished, Mr. Mackintosh says, that " it is 

 necessary that the plants, both the stock and 

 scion, should be either growing near to each 

 other, or, if in a portable state, placed so that 

 their branches may meet. A portion of the 

 bark is then removed from each at the intended 

 point of union — say from one inch to three 

 inches in length, according to the size and 

 strength of the subjects. These parts are fitted 

 together so that the inner barks of both co- 

 incide ; and the process of tying and claying, or 

 mixin'j:, follows, as iu common grafting. Some, 

 however, tongue tho scion and stock in the 

 same manner as is done in tongue-grafting. 

 In either way, the cambium shortly becomes 

 developed ; the alburnum of the scion and 

 stock becomes united ; and when this is ac- 

 complished the scion may be cut oft", a little 



The eftect of in-arching is the same [ the stem. Everything beyond this seems to 



be connected with specific constitutional 

 powers, of which science can give no expla- 

 nation." The earth in vrhich cuttings strike 

 most readily is thus practically described by 

 Dr. ]N"euman : — " Difi'erent sorts of trees do 

 not root equally well in all soils. There are 

 some cuttings which can scarcely be made to 

 succeed in saline earth, while others succeed iu 

 it very well. The soils considered the best 

 for striking cuttings in the open air, are those 

 which are free, sandy, and soft to the touch. 

 Tamarix elegans, and T. Germanica, prosper in 

 a soil rich iu saltpetre; but the Gingko and 

 Poplars eannot strike in it. Cuttings made 

 in glass-houses generally require to be planted 

 in earth mixed with peat in preference to any 

 other, but varied according to the nature of the 

 plant. Wliatever composition is used, we 

 must take care not to employ it too dry, or 

 too moist : ni the first case, the earth not 

 being able to sustain itself in a convenient 

 manner around the cutting, tiie latter falls or 

 I ia displaced when we wish to water it; in the 

 below where it is united to the stock, either second case, tne earth being too compact, it 



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