£50 DEFECTS OP GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



years ; but if cut they would show, that they carry then 

 certain death with them. The gardeners indeed may say, 

 to manage them in this careful manner would take so much, 

 time, as would ruin us; for the price is not adequate. 

 Certainly not; but it would better answer to a gentleman, 

 to give half a guinea for a good tree, that would live ; than 

 buy ten for a shilling a piece, that will die just when they 

 should bear well ; and many, I dare say, would prefer it. 



Decay of the I have this year cut two to endeavour to discover the cause 



apneot. Q f t j ie ^cay of the apricot, particularly the Anson, which 



loses a limb each year. In vain I searched every part for 

 the defect, till I came to the graft, and then it was visible 

 enough : for the separate parts of the wood had decayed 

 just as it led to each of the large branches, till (here were but 



Canker. * wo ^ft- The canker very usually begins there. 



Grafted beech. I was examining a small copper beech tree, grafted on the 

 common, six years old. I thought it appeared sickly from 

 the uncleanly appearance of its leaves ; for it is certain, 

 that when a tree grows unhealthy its juices grow sweeter; 

 and the insects therefore seize it with double avidity. 

 This had its beautiful leaves much disguised with the filth 

 of the vermin that swarmed on it. I examined every part, 

 till I observed a great enlargement about the graft. The 

 rind was loose, and on making an incision, T found the 

 bark all decayed to powder, half way up the tree ; and I 

 took from it above a pint of woodlice. On examining it 

 had certainly arisen from the rot in the graft: which had 

 never been well joined ; and which had soon allowed these 

 creatures to form themselves a habitation between the two 

 barks. This spread by degrees ; and had I not discovered 

 it, the tree would soon have died ; but by a proper appli- 

 cation of the composition, and cutting away ail the decayed 

 parts, I doubt not it may do well. I was not a little 

 surprised to see Mr. Foresyth advise the cutting three 

 inches above the bud, which is certainly leaving great room 

 for rot to accumulate. 



Buddine -*- sna ^ now mcn t'o n the difference between budding and 



grafting, and the reason for giving a preference to the 

 former. There is in my opinion no comparison between 

 them, so infinitely superior is the practice of budding. 



The 



