Propagation 



should be cut from the tree in January or early in 

 February, labelled, and tied in bundles, then placed 

 with the cut ends buried in the soil in a shady 

 position. 



THE OPERATION. There are many methods of 

 grafting, but only two which are really worth 

 knowing, i.e., whip- grafting, and crown-grafting ; 

 the former for raising young trees and the latter for 

 renovating old ones. 



Figs. 18 and 19 explain both of these methods. 

 Note (i) that a very sharp knife must be used ; 

 (2) that dwarf trees should be grafted close to, 

 or even beneath, the soil level and (3) that the 

 grafts must be securely tied in and the wound 

 covered with clay, grafting wax, plasticine or simi- 

 lar material. The tie should be severed when the 

 young grafts possess shoots 2 or 3 inches long, 

 and then they should be supported by light stakes 

 to prevent the wind from blowing them apart from 

 the stocks. (See Appendix II. for Grafting Wax.) 



BUDDING. 



" Just in that place a narrow slit we make, 

 Then other buds from nobler trees we take ; 

 Inserted thus, the wounded rind we close, 

 And so the briar brings forth a better rose." 



VIRGIL (adapted). 



Budding is really a variety of grafting, but the 

 method is quite different, and, unlike proper graft- 

 ing, it is done when the sap is flowing freely. One 

 bud only instead of several as in proper grafting 

 is detached from the " nobler tree " for insertion in 

 the wild stock, except for "standard" roses, when 

 three or four buds are inserted, one in each of several 



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