DEFECTS OF GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 355 



usually well. It may be, that both bringing sap will not 

 do so well, as it does not so completely make the stock a 

 passage for the sap. Nothing but experiment however can 

 prove the truth of these conjectures, which I hope to 

 verify. 



I fear the Chinese method would not do better though Chinese 

 something different from this. (See Trans. Soc. ofJrts, vol. n,ethod * 

 xxv, p. 14, or Journal, vol. xxii, p. 321.) It would I think 

 want more than two months, or even four, to strike a 

 root fit to nourish such a branch. We know how large a 

 root is necessary to support an infant shoot: and I much 

 doubt whether such a branch would not bleed to death, es- 

 pecially in the spring, and unprepared. This time of the 

 year, October, seems much more fitted for the trial. But 

 I must think in one respect the gentleman must have been 

 mistaken : that it fruited the better for the cutting. In our 

 climate the flower bud is formed the autumn preceding its 

 fruiting. I doubt not, that vegetation is much quicker in. 

 China ; but not sufficiently hasty to produce bud, flower, 

 and fruit, in two months ; which must be the case, if the 

 operation of abscission causes more fruit to grow on the 

 branch, than was there when chosen. As to the fruit being Fruit trees not 

 larger and better for taking off the leaves of a plant, it has JSe^leave? ° J 

 been too often tried, to allow of our being again deceived. 

 We know, that the fruit decays on the tree being wholly 

 robbed of the leaves; and how should it be other- 

 wise ? it must at once lose all the carbonic acid gas, 

 that passes into its circulation ; and all the dew, that is 

 taken in by its leaves, is decomposed and produces the 

 oxigen for us, and the hidrogen for the seeds. Is it there- 

 fore to be credited, that in any climate plants would be the 

 better for such a change in their. formation ? I beg Marsden's 

 pardon for believing he has made some mistake. 



The most common way of grafting is whip grafting, or Whip or 

 tongue grafting, which is certainly the best that can be fol- tongue S raftin g- 

 lowed in this climate. But there is in the practice of this 

 a custom, which would be better exploded; the giving the 

 notch. It is said to hook them to each other; but this is a" 

 great mistake ; for that part is soon in a manner reduced, 

 and I have known it frequently introduce the rot into the 

 2 A 2 graft. 



