122 LETTER VIII. 



beneath bark, except at one end. There are many ways 

 of performing the operation of grafting, one of which 

 is the following : — You cut off the upper end of the 

 branch on which you wish to insert a cutting ; and 

 vou then pare the end of the branch flat, equally on 

 both sides, till it resembles a long wedge. This done, 

 you slit the lower end of the cutting, and pare away 

 its wood to two flat faces, which correspond with the 

 faces of the branch on which it is to be made to grow. 

 You are then to fit the cutting accurately to the 

 branch, taking care that the bark of both touches 

 exactly, and if they are bound together with worsted 

 or matting, as before, the operation is completed. As 

 however by this method the cutting is less readily 

 supplied with sap than in the case of buds inserted 

 beneath the bark, it might perish before any union 

 between itself and the branch could take place ; to 

 prevent this, it is usual to surround it with a thick 

 coating of clay, which adheres to the surface of both 

 • branch and cutting, prevents evaporation, and also 

 keeps the two more firmly applied to each other. 



These are the simple means by which such impor- 

 tant operations as the multiplication of rare and valu- 

 able plants, by making pieces of them grow upon those 

 which are worthless, are performed. If we possessed 

 no such power, it would be almost useless to occupy 

 ourselves with improving the quality of fruit trees, 

 for Ave should be unable to perpetuate them. 



Here I would recommend you to pause for the pre- 

 sent ; and when what relates to the Rose Tribe is fully 



