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24 



Each year great care should be taken not to mix the 

 varieties ; whole trets, and indeed whole rows, should be 

 grafted with the same variety. 



While it is found that the stock has an influence upon 

 the scion, the influence of the scion upon the stock is much 

 greater. In starting apple trees in the nursery we graft on 

 roots of seedlings. After such roots have been affected by 

 the graft for three or four years, we find that those grafted 

 with Red Astrachan are very fibrous, branching out near 

 the surface with few top roots ; while the row adjoining, or 

 parts of the same row grafted with Duchess of Oldenburg 

 or the Fameuse are destitute of fibres, a id possess orily 

 three coarse prongs as a rule, one of which is liable to the 

 toproot seeking an abode far down in the sub-soil. The 

 whole relation between the stock and scion is very imper- 

 fectly understood, and presents an interesting field for study. 



I have found tiie following mixture very satisfactory for 

 grafting wax : — 4 parts rosin, 2 parts beeswax, and one part 

 tallow ; melt together over a slow fire, but in no case allow 

 to boil. It is very important that the beeswax be pure. 



BUDDING 



is not widely practised as a means of propagating varieties, 

 but it seen)s to be growing in favor with nurserymen. It 

 is usually done in the month of August, or any time when 

 the bark will lift readily from the stock The bud is cut 

 from the present year's growth. The leaves are first 

 removed, leaving a short stub for a handle only. The bud 

 is removed with an inch of the wood directly under the bud. 

 This wood used to be peeled away ; but now it is left 

 attached to the bud, with belter success. 



An opening is made in the stock by cutting a perpen- 

 dicular and a horizontal line in the shape of a T, about an 

 inch to an inch and a half long ; carefully lift the bark, and 

 gently press the bud into place by part of the leaf stem 

 remaining. Wrap up in cotton rag or woollen yarn. There 

 is seldom any failure in budding when done by experienced 

 hands. Failure is often caused by not cutting oft enough 

 bark with the bud, or by some injury done to the bark 

 when removing it from the stock. 



Ring grafting is done by having a ring of bark taken 

 off, and putting into its place another ring of the same 

 width having a bud of the desired variety. Both grafting 

 and budding, although they may look difficult, can be easily 

 learned by any person of avei'age intelligence in a few 

 hours, but of course it requires considerable practice to 

 become expert. . 



