GRAFTING. 27 



Rendering Delicate Kinds Hardier. — Certain kinds of 

 fruit may be rendered hardier, or protected against 

 disease b}'' grafting on other stocks, as in the case of 

 the European grapes on American stocks to protect 

 them against the Phylloxera. 



In order that grafting may be successful, several 

 requisites must be carefully observed: The stock and 

 scion must be related, as the pear on its own roots, or 

 the roots of the quince, both of which are seed fruits ; 

 or the plum on its own or the roots of the peach, both 

 of which are stone fruits. But such a union as that of 

 the apple and the peach cannot be effected. 



The operation must be performed with sharp instru- 

 ments to avoid making rough wounds which will not 

 heal readily; and if above ground the wound must be 

 protected by applications of grafting wax or clay. The 

 scion must ^e so placed in the stock that the inner 

 bark of the two will coincide at least in one point, thus 

 affording a channel for the passage of the sap in its up- 

 ward and downward flow, by means of which life is 

 retained and growth effected. 



The usual time for grafting fruit trees is from Feb- 

 ruary till April, or just before the buds begin to swell, 

 the cherry, plum and peach coming into the proper 

 condition first, followed later by the pear and the apple. 



The scions for grafting are sometimes taken from the 

 trees as wanted for use, but as it is better for the 

 stocks to be a little in advance of the scions, the latter 

 are usually cut in the fall or winter and kept till needed 

 in the manner recommended in the chapter on Pre- 

 serving Cuttings. 



Stocks for grafting are either the root or stem of 



