GRAFTING. 45 



it down till the hole is filled ; and if the mellow 

 earth be pressed firmly down with the foot, no 

 forked stick will be usually necessary. 



Layering is largely made use of in propagating 

 the grape, occasionally for the quince, and some- 

 times for the apple. It is also of very extensive 

 application in propagating many ornamental trees 



and shrubs. 



\ 



III. GRAFTING. 



The great number of modes described in books, 

 have tended rather to bewilder than to enlighten 

 beginners ; the following remarks, therefore, are 

 more for the purpose of laying down reasons on 

 which success depends, than for pointing out the 

 peculiar modes of operation, which may be varied 

 according to convenience, provided attention is 

 given to the essential particulars. 



Propagation by grafting differs mainly and es- 

 sentially from increasing by cuttings, by inserting 

 the cutting into the growing stock of another tree, 

 instead of directly into the soil. The stock thus 

 supplies the sap, as the soil does in the case of a 

 cutting ; and the graft, instead of making roots of 

 its own, extends its forming wood downwards, 

 through the inner bark, into the stock itself. Hence 

 there are two chief requisites for success : the first, 

 that the graft be so set in the stock, that the sap 

 may flow upward without interruption; and the 



