OF PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 221 



In all these methods, and in every other that could 

 be named, it is indispensable that similar parts should 

 be brought as much as possible into contact ; for the 

 more completely this is accomplished, the more cer- 

 tain is the operation to succeed. It is undoubtedly 

 true, that, as the cellular system of a tree is diffused 

 through its whole diameter (43, 46), it is impossible 

 to apply a scion to a stock without their cellular sys- 

 tems coming in contact ; and, therefore, it might ap- 

 pear indifferent whether bark is applied to bark and 

 alburnum to alburnum, or whether the bark is adapt- 

 ed to the wood and the latter to the liber. But it is 

 always to be remembered that each of these parts has 

 special modifications of its own, which modifications 

 require contact with parts similarly modified, in or- 

 der to unite readily and firmly ; and also, that, al- 



roots, by common whip grafting. Then plant them at once, cover- 

 ing the point of union about two inches under the surface of the 

 soil. Small seedling apple stocks, one year old, even if only the 

 thickness of the graft, answer perfectly well in this manner. 



The apple tree is propagated in American nurseries, by millions 

 every year, by grafting the roots, or rather the stocks headed down 

 to an inch or so above the crown of the root, splitting them, and 

 inserting the scion sloped to a wedge shape in the common mode of 

 cleft grafting. The two year seedling stocks used for this purpose, 

 are usually lifted in the autumn, and buried in a cellar for this pur- 

 pose. The grafts are inserted in winter by the fire-side ; when 

 grafted, the scion is held firm by a bit of matting bound round the 

 stock, the latter is then packed away in the cellar till spring. Then 

 the grafts are planted out in rows in the nursery, and by autumn 

 they have grown from three to six feet high. As the earth covers 

 the graft-wound no grafting clay or wax is needed, and the whole, 

 except planting, is done in winter, when labor is least valuable. 



A. J. D. 



