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JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ April 27, 1871. 



scion quite a thin wedge. Then at the thick end of this wedge 

 a cro^s cat is made of the same slope as the top of the scion, 

 and going fully half way tbrongh, and by an upward cut a slice 

 is taken off to meet the cross cut, so making this end of the 

 Bcion Btill thinner. Lastly, a very thin slip is cut oS one 



edge, as represented by figs, b 2 and 3. This last cut should 

 be at a right angle to tbe previous one, and leave the portion 

 of the wood esposed of the same thickness as that of the slip 

 of the stock. 



The fitting of tie scion to the stock is shown mfici. c. The 

 cat edge of the scion lies against the face of one-half of the 



B 3 



slip, and the other half of the slip is brought over the scion, 

 and then, as usual, the whole is firmly bound together with 

 bast, and the joint covered either with clay or grafting wax. 



Like all operations of this kind, the description is most 

 easily followed by taking a small branch and cutting it as 

 directed. The graft is very quickly made, and it will be seen 

 that almost the whole of the exposed liber and alburnum of 

 the scion must meet its fellow in the stock. 



In all grafting, three or four buds should be on the scion. 

 In the figures the upper part of the scion has been suppressed ; 

 one bud will be seen to be in the centre of the slip, and one 

 about half an inch above the top of the stock. I am quite 

 convinced that in all cases the final leader of the young tree 

 should be the shoot from one of these two buds. The upper 

 ones will start first, and as soon as they have made six or seven 

 leaves the points of these upper shoots should be nipped off, 

 and then the shoot from either of the two lower eyes encou- 

 raged to grow as long as possible. For Apples and Pears this 

 is not necessary, but advantageous ; for stone fruits generally, 

 absolutely necessary. Of coarse cut 2, fiy. A, may be made 



first, and this met by thrusting the point of the knife down, so 

 as to cut only one half of the slip ; but this is not so easily 

 don?, and the knife point is very apt to get into a finger. Ease, 

 speed, and goodness of junction are the advantages of this form 

 of graft, — W. KiNGSLEY. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Continue the trenching of ground as it becomes vacant, and 

 daring the prevalence of dry weather keep it well forked. The 

 yoULg plants of Asparagus will now be ready for planting in- 

 beds, which it is hoped have been kept well prepared ; let the 

 roots be carefully lifted with a strong fork, and after planting 

 cive a good supply of water to settle the soil abnnt them. Sow- 

 Early Purple and Hyatt's White Cape Broccoli, also the Wal- 

 cheren for late autumn use. Sow a full crop of Hed Beet, if 

 not already done. Prick out the seedling plants of the earliest- 

 sown Brussels Spronts e.nd Savoys, in order to have them stocky 

 for final planting. Draw earth well up to the most forward' 

 Cauliflowers, and give plentiful applications of liquid manure. 

 Continue to prick out Celery; this must always be kept well, 

 supplied with water, rapid and continual growth being essential 

 in its cultivation, if it be required large. It is found by ex- 

 perience that if the earliest-sown plants receive any check from 

 drought, the chances are ten to one that they run to seed. Sow 

 now a full crop of Dtoarf Kidney Bea7is and Scarlet Runners, if 

 it be preferable to sow in the open ground, instead of trans- 

 planting, as recommended. In some soils wireworms are very 

 apt to attack the cotyledons during germination ; to remedy 

 this, after the Beans are placed in the drills, water them ovei 

 n ith a liquid formed of one gallon of ammoniaoal liquor from the- 

 gasworks, diluted with sis or eight gallons of water, accoiding. 

 to the strength of the liquor; after which let them be covered 

 with 2 inches of charred wood or refuse, and the ground levelled 

 over them. The charred materials appear to be peculiarly^ 

 agreeable to the plants, as they become of a most luxuriant 

 dark green, and are very prolific. Repeat the sowings oi 

 Lettuce of all sorts, and thin out and transplant those advanc- 

 ing as occasion may require. Sow a good breadth of Turnips, 

 the ground for which should be well dressed with wood ashes- 

 or charred refuse. 



FKUIT GAEEEN. 



"Do not take Nature by surprise," is an old maxim, and 

 may be well applied to the operation of disbudding fruit trees- 

 Severe disbudding suddenly performed causes inactivity at the 

 roots at the very period at which Nature has ordained the- 

 reverse. If anyone doubts, let him divest any plant of nearly 

 all its young shoots, and observe the effect. Disbudding, there- 

 fore, becomes a necessary but important operation, and if 

 hurried through pressure of business, or neglected, evil effects 

 will assuredly follow. See that the Peach trees are well bathed: 

 with tobacco water two evenings in succession, as soon as the 

 crop is set. Do not wait until you see the insects, make up 

 your mind that there are some to come, and you will not be 

 deceived. When the trees are quite out of bloom, apply the 

 sulphur-and-clay mixture with a painter's brush between every 

 two shoots if possible; with two timely applications, no fear- 

 need be entertained of either the green fly or red spider for the' 

 whole summer. To form this mixture make thick clay water, 

 add two handsfnl of sulphur and 2 ozs. of soft soap to each 

 gallon, to make it adhere to the wall. When Vines have pushed 

 Fufficiently to enable us to distinguish the fruit-bearing shoots, 

 let all superfluous ones be immediately removed. See that the- 

 soil is kept well puverised about the roots of the trees, and that 

 all newly-planted trees are sufficiently mulched. 



FLOWER OAKDEN. 



It is more than probable that where much planting was in- 

 tended part of it may yet remain to be executed ; some kinds 

 of evergreens may, however, yet be safely removed, taking the 

 precautions to water them at first planting, and occasionally 

 afterwards, to well mulch the surface, and to damp the foliage 

 over in the evenings of di-y days. These attentions, which are 

 indispensable should dry weather occur, will enable late-pIanted 

 evergreens to start in most cases freely. I have found Hollies,. 

 Portugal Laurels, Evergreen Oaks, Eed Cedars, Arbor-Vitios, &o., 

 take root more freely now than when planted earlier in the 

 spring, when autumn planting cannot be effected. Continue 

 to prick out into small pots annuals raised in frames, and" 

 harden such as are established preparatory to their being 

 turned out in the open ground. Those which have been potted 

 some time should have another shift rather than allow them to- 



