CHAPTER V 
GRAFTING 
THE term ‘“‘ graft” is applied to a small shoot or scion 
of a plant or tree inserted on another plant, the stock, 
which supports and nourishes it. Grafting is an art 
which has been practised from a period of remote 
antiquity ; by whom it was discovered is unknown. The 
operation consists in placing two cut surfaces of one or _ 
of different plants under conditions which cause them to 
unite and grow together. The plant—usually termed 
the ‘‘ stock ”»—on which the graft is inserted should in 
almost every case be provided with roots, for the 
purpose of drawing and transmitting nutriment to 
support the graft after a union has taken place. The 
part inserted is called the ‘‘ scion,” and is analogous 
to a cutting placed in the soil, although its growth 
is developed by nourishment supplied through the 
stock. 
The action of the one on the other is frequently 
marked and very important. Some fruit-trees, for 
instance, grow freely on one stock, but scarcely bear, 
whilst on others they produce abundant crops, though 
they do not grow so vigorously. Nevertheless, although 
both are intimately connected, they retain their indi- 
vidual characters distinct. The stock will become 
enlarged by the elaboration of sap in the leaves of the 
scion without the nature of the wood in either case being _ 
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