87 



2. It enables us to propagate plants which could not be 

 propagated true to name from seeds. This is the case with most 

 highly improyed plants. 



3. It is an easy and valuable means of rapidly propagating 

 some sorts of plants, and of obtaining a large amount of wood from 

 a shoot of a rare or choice variety. 



4. It also enables us to combat blights and pests by using either 

 roots or top of varieties little subject, or not liable to, the attacks 

 of such pests. Thus most apples are now worked on roots of the 

 Northern Spy, the Winter Majetin, the Duchess of Oldenburg, or 

 some other recognised varieties proof against the woolly aphis, and 

 also the choicer European vines are grafted on phylloxera- resistant 

 vines. 



5. It is a valuable means of speedily obtaining large trees of 

 kinds by working scions of such kinds on the top of high stems. 



6. It is a ready means of replacing varieties of little or no 

 value possessing vigorous roots and substituting for their tops 

 varieties better adapted to one's requirements. 



7. It is often practised for uniting on the same stock branches 

 of unisexual trees, or of plants which need be within reasonable 

 proximity to become fruitful. This plan is recommended in the 

 case of the Smyrna fig, which is sterile unless fertilised by the 

 blastophaga wasp, which dwells within the Capri fig. 



GrRAFTING TOOLS AND MATERIALS. 



A saw, a pocket knife, and a chisel, dexterously used, are often 

 the only tools used for grafting. Those tools, however, best suited 

 for the work have been described in the chapter on pruning. 



The knife, which is used for cutting and facing and preparing 

 the grafts should be kept sharp, so as to make a clean cut. 



Grafting Knife. 



The saws should be thin, fine- toothed wide set tools, so as not 

 to clog. They should be kept well set. 



