198 ON GRAFTING. 



We may consider the works of the creation as a natural 

 revelation, in which we read the history of the stupendous 

 operations of the Deity ; and which, the more we study, 

 the more we raise our minds towards just ideas of their 

 Divine Author, and elevate our hearts by the contempla- 

 tion of the blessings he has so bountifully lavished upon 

 us. Not only are we provided with every thing necessa- 

 ry to our existence, but care has been taken that even 

 this, our transitory state, should be rendered agreeable : 

 our food, instead of being insipid or loathsome, is delight- 

 ful to the palate ; the landscape, spread before our eyes, 

 instead of being dark or monotonous, is illumined by a 

 splendid sun, and variegated by a thousand hues ; delicious 

 odors arise from flowers of enchanting form aud color; 

 in a word, Nature contains innumerable sources of enjoy- 

 ment, which develope and strengthen a spirit of grateful 

 devotion towards their beneficent Author. 



CONVERSATION XVI. 



ON GRAFTING. 



Mrs. B. We may now proceed to the art of grafting, 

 an operation from which we derive our finest fruits. It 

 consists in placing a portion of one plant in juxta-position 

 with another, in such a manner that they shall unite and 

 grow together. The branch which is cut from one tree, 

 to be transferred to another, is called the graft, or scion, 

 and the tree to which it is transferred the stock. 



Caroline. This, then, is not a mode of multiplying 

 plants, but of changing their nature ; for if a branch of 

 one plant be added to another plant, the number is not 

 increased. 



Mrs. B. Certainly not. The advantage of grafting 

 consists in improving the quality, not augmenting the 

 number, of plants. The ancients entertained very exag- 

 gerated ideas of this art : they conceived that every spe- 

 cies of plant might be grafted on each other ; but it is now 

 well ascertained that this operation can be performed only 



1088. How are the particular parts of nature suited to our happiness! 

 1089. What is grafting? 1090. What is the graft and the stock 1 ? 

 1091 What is the advantage of grafting! 1092, What erroneous 

 opinions were entertained by the ancients on the subject*! 



