Propagation. 43 



thorns, and not at all upon plums or cherries ; while the lilac will 

 take on the ash, and the olive on the Phillyrea, because they are 

 plants of the same natural order." * 



There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. Thus, the 

 cultivated cherry, and most species of wild cherry, though of the 

 same genus, will not agree. The pear succeeds better on the 

 quince than on the apple, although the apple and pear are within 

 the same genus, and the pear and quince are by most regarded as 

 of distinct genera ; the superior firmness of the wood of the quince, 

 a quality so important to successful grafting, more than compen- 

 sates the difference in affinity. 



Lindley mentions also some exceptions which are apparent only. 

 In one case, the fig was supposed to grow on the olive. But the 

 graft, being below the surface of the soil, rooted independently 

 of the fig-stock. "I have seen," says Pliny, "near Thulia, in 

 the country of the Tiburtines, a tree grafted and laden with all 

 manner of fruits, one bough bearing nuts, another berries ; here 

 hung grapes, there figs ; in one part you might see pears, in another 

 pomegranates ; and to conclude, there is no kind of apple or other 

 fruit but there was to be found ; but this tree did not live long." 

 This is explained by the process now sometimes performed in Italy, 

 for growing jasmines and other flexible plants on an orange-stock, 

 by the ingenious trick of boring out the orange stem, through which 

 the stems of the other plants are made to pass, and which soon 

 grow so as to fill it closely, and to appear as if growing together. 

 Such a crowded mass of stems must, of course, soon perish. 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 



CUTTING GRAFTS. Cut these in autumn if you have a good 

 place to pack them. They will have more vigor in spring than if 

 exposed to the cold of any severe winter this is especially the case 

 with plums, pears, and cherries. Pack them in boxes of damp (not 

 wet) moss, or in small boxes of damp (not wet) sawdust large 

 boxes of sawdust will heat. Mark every sort carefully and plainly. 

 Another good way to keep scions through winter is to place them 

 snugly in a box till it is more than half full ; next nail in two or 

 three cross-pieces to hold them, and then bury the box inverted 

 with several inches of earth over it, on a dry spot or knoll. They 

 will thus be kept from contact with the wet earth, and will receive 



* Lindley, Theory Hort. 



