APPLE TREE. 189 



idrive dewn stakes, proportioned to the height of the 

 young' trees, and tie them to these in such a manner, 

 that the bark will not be injured by the string, nor by 

 rubbing against the stakes. This is to be done after 

 grafting them. 



Engrafting. Miraturque novas frondes^ et non suet 

 poma. — V^iRG. 



This quotation may serve at least, to show something 

 of the antiquity of the art of grafting: in which Virgil 

 represents the stock or tree thus altered, as astonished 

 at the new leaves^ and apples not its orsrn. What pity that 

 the name of the inventer of this useful art should have 

 been lost, who had deserved to rank high among the 

 benefactors of mankind. Grafting was known long be- 

 fore the time of Virgil, having been mentioned by 

 Hesoid, &c. 



Fruit trees bear several years sooner for being graft- 

 ed or innoculated. In the choice of scions for grafting, 

 the first essential requisite is, that they are of the same 

 genus and natural family with the strck which is to be- 

 come their foster parent. Scions from a winter apple 

 tree should not be grafted on a summer apple stock, 

 because the sap in the summer stock is liable to decline 

 and diminish before the wiater fruit has become fully 

 ripe. It is next important, that scions be taken from 

 trees that have attained to the maturity' of full bearing. 

 They are directed to be cut in March, just before the 

 buds begin to swell ; and in order to preserve them in 

 good condition, they must be placed, with their lower 

 ends in the ground, in some dry part of the cellar till 

 wanted. ^ But somo experienced operators prefer cut- 

 ting them as near the time they are to be employed as 

 convenient. Scions should always be taken from the 

 extremities of the most thrifty and best bearing trees, 

 and of the last year's growth, except only just enough 

 of the growth of the year before to fix in the earth to 

 preserve them moist until they are to be used ; and 

 they must be kept at full length. It is generally sup- 

 posed that grafting may most successfully l?e performed, 

 by allowing the stock to have some advantage over the 

 graft in forwardness of vegetation. If grafts are to be 

 brought from any considerable distance, tli<n' ought to 

 be paCxked in light earth, and enclosed in mosi or damp 

 straw. 



*17 



