264 OF GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



I shall ^ therefore, give what directions may be 

 necessary on that subject, to render it plain and 

 easy to those who have not been regularly instructed 

 in the art of grafting from general practice ; and 

 add a method which I have followed for some years, 

 and which I flatter myself will be found an im- 

 provement. 



The shoots used in grafting are called cions, or 

 grafts : and in the chaice of these the ibl lowing 

 directions should be carefully observed. 1st. That 

 they are shoots of the former year ; for when they 

 are older they never succeed well. 2dly. Always 

 to take them from healthy fruitful trees ; for, if the 

 trees from which they are taken be sickly, the grafts 

 very often partake so much of the distemper as 

 rarely to get the better of it, at least for some 

 years ; and when they are taken from young luxu- 

 riant trees, whose vessels are generally large, they 

 will continue to produce luxuriant shoots, but are 

 seldom so productive as those which are taken 

 from fruitful trees whose shoots are more com- 

 pact, and the joints closer together ; at least it will 

 be a great number of years before the luxuriant 

 grafts begin to produce fruit, even if managed with 

 the greatest skill. 3dly. You should prefer those 

 grafts which are taken from the lateral or horizontal 

 branches, to those from the strong perpendicular 

 shoots, for the reasons before given. 



These grafts, or cions, should be cut off from 

 the trejes before the buds begin to swell, which is 



