648 General Notices. 



the apple or pear. The only precaution that is necessary in this operation is, 

 to take prominent buds from the first growth of this season, as many of the 

 family have made a second growth this month. Variegated hollies may now be 

 grafted and budded with the greatest freedom. The rhododendron being thin- 

 rinded, it does best by side grafting, and buds of it also had better be inserted 

 after the manner of side-grafting, with a portion of the soft wood retained be- 

 hind the bud ; all autumn buds may thus be inserted. I scarcely ever used 

 clay in the first instance for excluding the air from these experimental buds 

 and grafts, so that, with this useful precaution, there will be no fear of success. 

 The following observations may be useful to those little versed in these 

 matters. Insert autumn grafts as you would buds, leave about an inch of the 

 graft out, at the top of the incision, and use the firm part of this summer's 

 growth for the stock. If the bark of the stock be very thin, or if it does not 

 part freely from the wood, you had better put in the grafts and buds as in 

 side-grafting, cutting out a thin slice, and preparing the grafts so as to fit the 

 place; and tie rather gently, as the stock is soft, for fear of bruising the bark, 

 if the graft be put in on the north side of the stock, it will be an additional 

 security from the heat of the sun. The best grafting clay is made by putting 

 a lump of soft clay in the bottom of a small pot, with a little water over it ; 

 then stir it with a stick until it is rather thicker than paint, and with a small 

 brush, made with strips of matting tied to a little stick, paint over the tying; 

 and, while the paint is wet, dust a little dry sand or mould over it. When 

 it becomes dry, no rain will wash it off, and the sand will keep it from crack- 

 ing. (Z). Beaton, in Gai-d. Chron. for Sept. 2. 1843, p. 616.) 



Disbudding Shoots with the Leaves on. — This is practised by Mr. James 

 Roberts, the author of the Culture of the Vine under Glass, a book that ranks 

 with the Treatise of Mr. Hoare. While the leaves are yet green, the shoots 

 or spurs are divested of such buds as are not intended to produce fruit the 

 following season. The result of this is, that the organisable matter prepared 

 by 30 or 100 leaves is concentrated in 20 or 30 buds, instead of being divided 

 among three or four times that number, as it is by the general system of 

 management. Though this is merely an extended application of the principle 

 of the concentration of the sap practised in disbudding and various allied 

 operations, yet it is one of immense importance when applied to the vine, and 

 to the shoots of ligneous plants with the leaves on. The buds, in conse- 

 quence of having so much sap concentrated in them, become highly excitable, 

 and, with the slightest application of heat in early spring, they push with the 

 greatest vigour. There may, under certain circumstances, be a fear of the 

 premature bursting of the buds ; but this, in general, may be prevented by 

 leaving two or three small laterals on the most vertical part of the vine. Though 

 Mr. Roberts, who is decidedly the inventor of this system, has chiefly applied 

 it to vines under glass, yet it is said to be equally applicable to out-of-door 

 vines. Of course, if it is applicable to one bud-bearing plant, it must be 

 applicable to all, whether ligneous or herbaceous. " You may," Mr. Roberts 

 observes, " proceed to disbud, beginning at the bottom of the vine, leaving a 

 bud you think well placed on the side of the shoot (preferring that to either 

 the top or under side); then cut clean out the two following, leaving the 

 fourth, taking out the next two, and so on till you reach 8 or 9 feet in height, 

 as to that length the cane must be cut back. Proceed again at the bottom, 

 disbudding the other side in the same manner, so that, in that length, you will 

 be able to leave eight or ten permanent eyes to form fruit-bearing spurs for 

 the following year, or five on each side. I particularly caution against in- 

 juring the leaves when the bud is cut out, as they may not naturall}' drop for 

 weeks after, and may yet be useful in more perfectly maturing the stem and 

 remaining buds. In a few days the wounds or cuts will have dried up ; touch 

 them with a little paint, keep them cool and dry until the leaves have com- 

 menced dropping generally." {W. F. At/res, in Gard. Chron. for 1843, p. 677.) 



An imperishable Bread, made of flour and rice meal, and in every respect 

 well tasted and wholesome, is said to have been invented by Mr. Alzard. 



