32 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



careful to point out that there yet remains something or some things 

 which cannot be reduced to an illustration the cleanness, the vim, 

 the accuracy, yes, the accuracy, for this is a surgical operation and 

 should be as delicately handled and precise as though the operator 

 was a surgeon dealing with animal life. If it should be other than 

 accurate, there is a probability of imperfect union from which 

 fatal weaknesses may develop. The fit must be faultless, the face 

 of the stock and the face of the scion being absolutely flush. 



But it will in practice be found that the scion is seldom as large 

 as the stock, and this probably happens nine times out of ten, 

 How, then, can the fit be perfect ? Here we must explain. Between 

 the bark and the wood not of the rose only, but of all plants 

 there exists what is known as the " cambium," that is, a layer of 

 cells and tissues extending all over the plant, along which all its 

 activities are conducted. It is the really vital part of the plant, 

 and to ensure successful grafting the cambium of the scion must 

 be in close and direct contact with the cambium of the stock, 

 for it is on the fusion of these two that union entirely depends. 

 It would be the ideal thing for the scion to be the same size as the 

 stock, so that this union may be cemented on both sides, but the 

 ideal is seldom attainable and we have to be content with the nearest 

 approach to it that we can make ; so the only thing left is to see 

 that the two cambiums are in direct contact up one side, leaving it to 

 the superabundant energies of the stock to callus over the unused 

 portion of the cut. 



The binding on of the graft without removing it from its precise 

 position is a thing to be set about carefully, for the scion must be 

 completely covered, the ligature at each turn round the stock being 

 in close contact with the one above. Moisture is thus prevented 

 from insinuating itself between the scion and stock, and so inter- 

 fering with the action of the sap. The binding must be quite taut, 

 and not likely to loosen itself for some weeks, by which time the 

 union will be complete. 



So much for the actual operation of grafting, which though its 

 detail takes some time to describe, is quickly and easily done when 

 once the way is known. It now remains with us to give details 

 of treatment, and it is upon these that the progress of the grafts 

 must largely depend. 



