BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 215 



varieties, of which every bud is almost sure to make a 

 good plant if the operation is quickly aud skillfully per- 

 formed. It is the easiest method of propagating apples, 

 pears, and most other fruit trees. In the case of peaches 

 it is almost universally applied, and also with those roses 

 that will not succeed readily from cuttings. Budding aud 

 grafting can be performed only upou plants of the same, 

 or nearly related, 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 together. 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 inay 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 occa- 

 sionally, and if too much moisture is present, leave the 

 cover off a few hours. The drier the better, if they do not 

 begin to shrivel. 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, 

 enveloped in a little thin paper slightly dampened, and 

 the whole covered tightly with oiled silk. In this way 



