28 Catalogue of Works on Gardening, fyc. 



The Fruit-Grower's Instructor ; being a Practical Treatise on the Cultivation and 

 Treatment of Fruit Trees. To ivliich is added, full Instructions for Forcing, 

 with a List and Descriptive Account of all the best Fruits cultivated in Great 

 Britain ; also Directions for Hothouse Buildings, with the most approved Modes 

 of heating by Fire and Hot-Water. By George Bliss. 8vo, pp. 312. London, 

 1841. 



A practical work, which as such may be depended on so far as it goes. 

 The omission of several of the new pears, the glout morceau, for example, 

 while the green chisel is retained, and other fruits, is a proof to us that the 

 author writes only from his own experience. We shall quote what he says 

 on tying of grafts in the London nurseries, and also his directions for making 

 oiled-paper frames for growing melons. 



" Tying of Grafts. — Having given the necessary instructions for the grafter, 

 tying of grafts is the next consideration. The tying is done by a man who follows 

 the grafter ; he must have his bast or matting cut in lengths about one foot and a 

 half long, or if the stocks are large, it may be longer ; this, tied in small bundles, 

 should be taken one at a time (after dipping it in water to make it tough), and 

 tied in the string of the apron, putting one end in the apron to keep it moist : 

 the bast should be strong, otherwise should it break, if the grafter be quick, 

 he will have to wait for the man who ties : the man being now prepared, he 

 should begin to tie about four stocks behind the grafter, and keep about that 

 distance, which will give the grafter room. 



" The bast should be placed firm against the botton of the scion, and not let 

 slip, which will prevent the scion from being put out of its place. This is very 

 necessary to be observed, for if the scion is removed by the tying, it is useless 

 for the grafter to be particular about putting the grafts on. He should then tie 

 it tight round till it comes to the top of the stock, where it should have a tight 

 hitch to fasten off; then cut the end of the bast close off, for if the end is left 

 an inch long, which I have often seen, it prevents the clay from being properly 

 closed, consequently admitting the air to the graft, which often proves fatal. 



" The next thing is putting on the clay, commonly called dabbing. This is done 

 by a boy who follows the man who ties. Having put his clay into something to 

 carry it with him, he must take a small piece of clay sufficient to cover the 

 whole of the incision, and to come about half an inch above the top of the 

 stock, in order that it may hang well on the shoulder ; this he should roll up 

 in his hands nearly in the form of an egg, then make a hollow in one side of it 

 with one hand, sufficiently deep, that, when it is put on the stock, it will en- 

 close it all around alike. 



"After the dabber follows another boy, called the closer. He follows with a 

 pot of dry ashes, or dust, to rub his hands with to keep them from sticking to 

 the clay, and closes up every crack, squeezing it tight round the bottom of the 

 clay to keep it from slipping ; then making it perfectly smooth, nearly in the 

 form of an egg, it finishes the grafting. 



" The above is the general way of grafting in large nurseries about London; 

 but where small quantities only are wanted to be grafted, the grafter may tie 

 his own grafts, and one boy will serve both to dab and close. 



" I have treated as fully as possible on grafting of apples, as it will serve for 

 most other fruits, for this practice of grafting is far preferable to saddle or rind 

 grafting for fruit trees. 



" Directions for making Oiled-Paper Frames for growing Melons. — Fine crops 

 of melons are produced by growing them under oiled-paper frames; the plants 

 being raised the same as directed for hand-glasses, and the beds prepared in 

 the same way : they may either be covered with hand-glasses till June, or, in 

 want of hand-glasses, the paper frames placed over them at once. If first pro- 

 tected with hand-glasses, when the glasses become filled with the runners, 

 remove the glasses, and place over the beds the oiled-paper frames, there to 

 remain during the summer. 



