THE STEM 51 



In all these methods of grafting it is necessary to 

 cover the junction between scion and stock in order to 

 prevent the tissues drying, for the cambium would then 

 die and no union take place. In order to preserve the 

 tissues in a moist condition it is sometimes the custom 

 to fix a mass of clay over the place where stock and 

 scion meet ; this, however, is liable to become dry and to 

 crack, so that it is preferable to employ soft wax in a 

 similar manner. More commonly, strips of cloth or 

 tape are covered with the wax, and these strips are 

 bound round the joint, thus holding the scion in place, 

 and, at the same time, forming a waterproof covering 

 which effectually keeps the tissues from drying. 



One particular method of grafting, known as budding, 

 deserves special mention. It consists in the removal of 

 a bud together with a little of the wood and bark, and 

 consequently a portion of the cambium, from one plant, 

 and its insertion under the bark, that is in the cambium 

 region, of another plant The inserted bud unites with 

 the plant in which it is inserted, and, growing quickly, 

 forms a new branch. 



When plants are grown from seed they often differ 

 very markedly from the parent-plant which produced 

 the seed. This variation, whilst a useful feature when 

 the grower is seeking for new forms of plants or striving 

 to obtain improved varieties, is one which is not 

 welcome to the cultivator who sows seed and wishes to 

 raise a crop on the character of which he can rely. It is 

 still more important in connection with fruit or other 

 trees which take some years in coming to maturity, for 

 it is naturally very disappointing to the grower to find 



