THE STEM 49 



of active growth where new tissue is being regularly 

 formed, can repair injuries to the bark or to the surface 

 of the wood, and, moreover, when the cambiums of two 

 stems are brought together by suitable operations, they 

 both form new tissues so intermingled that the two stems 

 unite and grow together. 



To carry out grafting in its simplest form, select two 

 branches, of equal thickness, of different trees of the 

 same species, and without separating either from its 

 parent, cut away a portion of the bark and a little of the 

 wood below it, thus exposing the cambium as a narrow 

 line surrounding the cut ; take care to make the cuts on 

 both branches of about the same size and shape. Bring 

 the cut surfaces together with their respective cambiums 

 in close contact as far as possible, and securely bind the 

 branches together in this position. Each cambium now 

 makes efforts to repair the injuries to the surrounding 

 tissues, and, all being well, the new growth thus resulting 

 unites the two branches. One of the branches may now 

 be severed from its parent tree at a place between the 

 root and the point of grafting. The upper part of the 

 branch so severed will have to depend on the root of the 

 other tree for its support, and thus becomes a part of that 

 tree, or, as it is usually expressed, is grafted on to it. 

 This method of grafting is known as "grafting by 

 approach" because the two plants, each on its own roots, 

 are brought together. 



In other forms of grafting, separate pieces, called scions, 

 of the tree which it is desired to propagate, are fixed, with 

 proper precautions, to another tree of the same species, 

 known as the stock, properly prepared to receive them. 



D 



