268 



AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTUBE. 



stock is a simple cutting or bit of root ; but it is planted 

 in such a manner as to be soon furnished with roots. 

 That portion of the other plant which is to be grafted on 

 to the stock should have at least one eye or bud, 

 it is, however, better to have two or three buds 

 if possible. It is called the graft, or scion, and it is 

 analagous to a cutting put to root in soil. The scion 

 continues its growth through the stock ; but notwith- 

 standing the intimate union of the stock and the graft, 

 they really preserve their individual characters and 

 constitutions distinctively, their layers of bark and wood 

 continue to be developed without the wood vessels or 

 fibres converging with each other ; it is, as it were, a 

 federative union which leaves to both their own character- 

 istics. The objects of grafting are to change the 



character of a plant by modify- 

 ing the wood, the foliage, or the 

 fruit which it is required to 

 produce ; to excite the develop- 

 ment of branches, flowers, or 

 fruit on the parts of a plant 

 where they are deficient ; and 

 to restore a defective or exhaus- 

 ted tree by transfusion of the 

 fresh sap of a vigorous kind. 

 Thus a variety naturally delicate 

 Boot Graft-Apple. becomes robust when " worked" 



on a more robust stock, and the consequence is a 

 more abundant production of flowers and fruit. 

 Thus it is that fine and delicate kinds of grapes 

 that do not thrive on their own roots are 

 made to produce large and fine bunches when 

 grafted on some vigorous stock such as the 

 Isabella, Syrian, or Gross Colman. The 

 peculiar qualities of some plants can only be 

 preserved by "working." This is especially 

 the case with variegated or striped roses. 

 These retain their gay markings when budded 

 or grafted ; but become plain when grown on 

 their own roots. So in grafting a great insertion. 



