DEFECTS OF GRAFTING AND BVDDING. 349 



There are very few grafts entirely without rot The Few grafts with- 

 cxampie I have given at Fig: I, PL IX, has less defect ™ tmore or less 

 than is usually found, the parts// are trifling degrees of 

 decay, and would soon have been banished, if kept from 

 the air. I know but one way of doing this, which is Rernety. 

 by placing a composition on the place, when the clay or 

 bass mat is taken oft". I know none better than Foresyth's. 

 Any composition that will keep out the air, and not crack, 

 will do; but his having been tried, and warranted by such 

 competent judges, must have the necessary qualities one 

 would suppose. I knew a gentleman, who always covered 

 his trees, whether grafted or wounded, with a plaster of 

 this kind ; and his grafts and buds were truly a picture. 

 He did it for two or three years, according to the appear- 

 ance: a bud but half the time. Within this space all 

 danger is over. It is a method that would save thousands of 

 trees, if adopted. If the number of grafts, that die between 

 the 3rd and 6th year, were counted, they would perhaps be 

 found nearly one eighth of those that survive the first 

 operation. I have a collection of grafts between those ages, 

 that well show the danger arising from this constant in- 

 crease of rot: which will almost inevitably take place in 

 every graft, when first performed, if not well guarded from 

 the air : but if, when the clay is taken off, the plaster is 

 put on. and renewed every six months for two years ; or, 

 if delicate, three; all danger would he at an end. The 

 joining of the bark would have been renewed by that time, 

 and taking off the plaster by degrees, the rind would be 

 fresh and hardened. 



On the contrary the, method of performing the operation Common mode 

 is this. A certain time is marked out for itat most nurseries, ^f gr&fung. 

 The weather is little attended to, either in grafting or bud- 

 ding ; because the hurry of business will not admit of such 

 nicety. It is supposed, that, if the shoot takes, all is 

 well: but not one in a thousand is really joined when the 

 clay is taken off. The operator should have a common 

 little microscope, which would show him, that they are so 

 open as to admit air enongh to destroy half, though to 

 common observation they appear closed. In this sfat< they 

 are prepared for selling. Some will live t\vo ; three, or four 



year?; 



