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Grafting the Cednis Deodara on C. Libdni. 



Art. V. On Grafting the CMrus Deodkra on the Cedar of Lebanon. 

 By Wm. Barron, Gardener at Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire. . 



Respecting the grafting of the Cedrus Deodara upon the 

 cedar of Lebanon, it is accomplished by what I call wedge- 

 grafting : a in fg. 5. will show the incision ; 

 and b the scion, inserted in form of a wedge. 

 After the portion of the stem chosen for the 

 insertion of the graft has been cleared of 

 leaves, I commence by entering the knife above, 

 and make a slanting cut downwards, through 

 the pith, from 1 in. to 1 J in. in length. The 

 graft, being cut in form of a wedge, from both 

 sides, is then inserted in the incision ; and, after 

 being neatly tied, may either be coated over 

 with grafting wax or clay. I. have been suc- 

 cessful with both, although I prefer the former, 

 simply from its being lighter, and not bending 

 the shoot. I always insert the grafts as high on 

 the stock as possible, in order to gain height. Considering the 

 pendulous habit of Deodara, I should not object to 4 ft. or 5 ft. 

 high, if good stocks of a sufficient height could be obtained. 

 I choose the grafts of the last year's wood, from 3 to 5 

 inches in length, and insert them in either one or two years old 

 wood, as I find the stocks to answer. In no instance do I take 

 off the leader from the stock (that is, the part above the graft) 

 when I insert it, or many of the lower branches : I only stop 

 them as they push ; and, after the graft is fairly established, the 

 leader is then cut close to the graft, and the lower branches 

 thinned by degrees. It is an absurd practice (particularly with 

 pines) to cut off the branches below the graft ; though, in 

 inarching, I see it is generally done, for the I'eason, as it is said, 

 of throwing the sap into the graft, and making it more vigorous. 

 However, it requires but little reflection to be convinced that it 

 has a contrary tendency. The branches below the graft, in- 

 stead of robbing it, are indispensable to the health of both stock 

 and graft. As a proof, take for instance a Weymouth pine, and 

 let it undergo the same treatment as if it were grafted ; first, 

 selecting one of its shoots, which we shall suppose to be a graft, 

 and, either before it has pushed, or shortly after (which is the 

 practice generally), deprive it of all its other shoots, and you will 

 either kill it, or render it so sickly that it will not recover for 

 years. 



I think that inarching, as generally practised, is any thing 

 but acting upon scientific principles, as it will obviously appear 

 to any one who will take the trouble to cut a transverse section 

 of a plant where inarched, and count the number of vessels at 



