222 Principles of Plant Culture. 



The apparent resemblance of two plants of different 

 species is not always evidence that they will unite by 

 grafting, e. g., the peach and apricot, though resem- 

 bling each other in many respects, do not readily unite 

 by grafting, but both unite freely when worked upon 

 the plum, though the latter apparently differs from 

 both the peach and apricot more than these differ from 

 each other. 



Many plants unite freely when grafted in one direc- 

 tion, that fail to unite when worked in the opposite 

 direction ; e. g., many cultivated cherries unite freely 

 when worked upon the mahaleb cherry, while the latter 

 fails to unite when worked upon any of the cultivated 

 cherries; many pears unite freely when grafted upon 

 the quince, but the quince does not freely unite when 

 worked upon the pear. The only sure way of deter- 

 mining what species may be united by grafting is by 

 trial. 



Three principal kinds of grafting are in use, viz., cion 

 grafting, budding and approach grafting. 



386. Cion Grafting is used in grafting on roots 

 (root-grafting) and very often in grafting on the stem, 

 especially on large trees. The cion is a portion of the 

 dormant stem, of the variety it is desired to propagate. 

 It should generally be of the preceding season's growth 

 and should always contain one or more healthy leaf- 

 buds* (131). It is probably best to cut cions from 

 trees known to be fruitful. Cions are usually cut in 

 autumn or during mild weather in winter or early 



• Flower-buds are occasionally used, but should be avoided except 

 in special cases. 



