ABOUT GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 47 



an inch or so in length, and to about half the thickness 

 of the shoot, then slightly twist the "tongue" or cut 

 part to one side, as shown in the engraving, fig. 15; hay- 

 ing opened a shallow trench, fasten the branch down 

 with a hooked peg, and cover with earth ; it is a good 

 plan to place a flat stone over the layer to prevent the 

 soil from drying out. This plan of cutting the shoot in 

 layering is rarely shown in illustrations on the subject, 

 the cuts usually being represented at the under side of 

 the shoot. When cut at the lower side, the shoot can 

 not be laid down without danger of breaking it. 



CHAPTEE XV. 



ABOUT GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



It is often desirable to be able to bud or graft one 

 variety of plant on another entirely different variety ; 

 and it is an interesting fact to know that the bud taken 

 from one plant and inserted so that it grows in another, 

 and is entirely sustained by the plant into which it has 

 been budded, in no way changes its character. This 

 fact is so well known to gardeners that they rarely think 

 it necessary to mention it in writing on the subject, and 

 many amateurs interested in horticultural matters have 

 very confused notions on budding. To illustrate: if a 

 leaf bud is taken from a white Rose, and inserted in the 

 stem of a red Rose, all the branches that proceed from 

 this bud, leaves or flowers, will be identical with the 

 white Rose from which it was taken. Or if a leaf bud 

 of the red Rose be inserted in the white, the same result 

 would follow ; it will be identical in all respects with the 

 red variety. Or you may take a bud or graft from the 



