16 NEW METHODS OF GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



stock and scion is perfect. To attain this result one only 

 requires to choose shoots of equal diameters, 



" The cuttings to be grafted should be 16 inches in length ; 

 their top end should be limited by a bud cut half through. 

 The graft is performed, as already said, on the bud imme- 

 diately below the top internodej tied with raffia, and the 



grafted cuttings thus obtained 

 placed in the nursery. They should 

 be carefully earthed up so as to 

 cover the scion with about f inch of 

 soil. The only operations necessary 

 after this are a few waterings 

 between the lines in summer, and 

 frequent hoeing, being careful, how- 

 ever, not to uncover the grafts. Two 

 mouths after planting the mound is 

 brought down, and the roots grow- 

 ing from the bud removed. The 

 mound is then reformed to prevent 

 desiccation. In September* the 

 grafts are left bare to induce the 

 knitting tissue to lignify. Finally, 

 the care to be given to a nursery of 

 Besson grafts is exactly similar to 

 that required for any other nursery 

 of grafted cuttings. 



"This graft gives very good joints 

 (Fig. 21), and is certainly a very 

 interesting application of inlaid 

 budding to vines. If it were possible 

 to make this graft in August or 

 September t on lignified canes of 

 American stocks, by surrounding the 

 ted - joint with rubber lacing, one might 

 place buds all along the canes, and obtain, by this means, 

 at the pruning season, cuttings bearing buds of European 

 varieties. The Besson budding tried in this way has not 

 given satisfactory results. If the budding made in August 

 or September! gave a good proportion of strikes, it might, 

 on account of the facility of its execution enter into current 

 practice, and constitute an excellent method of grafting 



* About March in Victoria. 



t About February or March in Victoria. 



