116 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



universally applied, and also with those roses that will not 

 succeed readily from cuttings. Budding and grafting can 

 be performed only upon plants of the same, or nearly re- 

 lated, species. Thus a peach can be budded on a plum, as 

 they are both stone fruits, and belong to the same natural 

 group of plants, but no art could make the peach flourish 

 on the apple or pear as a stock. 



Grafting. This differs from budding in its being the 

 transfer of a shoot, with several buds upon it, from one 

 tree to another, instead of merely employing a single bud. 

 It is performed by bringing portions of two growing shoots 

 together, so that the soft wood of the two may unite to- 

 gether. The shoot to be transferred is called the scion, 

 and the tree which is to receive it is called the stock. The 

 stocks are of all ages and sizes, but they must be sound 

 and healthy. The scions employed are generally shoots 

 of the preceding year's growth, which may be cut at any 

 time after the leaves fall, and may be buried in a dry soil, 

 with the upper extremities slightly projecting on the north 

 of a wall. They must be protected from heavy rains, or 

 the buds will start too early. Amateurs can best keep all 

 they wish in a corked preserve jar, or a tin box, or closely 

 covered bucket. Examine them occasionally, and if too 

 much moisture is present, leave the cover off a few hours. 

 The drier the better, if they do not begin to ehrivel 

 Keep in a cool place. 



Scions of healthy, close-jointed wood should always be 

 chosen. If they are to be sent to a distance, those of 

 rather large size and close joints should be selected, en- 

 veloped in a little thin paper slightly dampened, and the 

 whole covered tightly with oiled silk. In this way, they 

 will go a thousand miles in perfect safety. The but and 

 extremities of scions should both be rejected. The tools 

 required are, a grafting-knife, saw, and chisel ; but, for 

 whip-grafting, the knife only is employed. Two kinds 



