FRUIT CULTURE. 1095 



just meet. To insure, this juncture at some point, the top of the 

 graft is sometimes carried in slightly. The whole is then covered 

 with grafting-wax for the purpose of excluding moisture and air, 

 and the grafts usually take kindly, if the grafting be done at the 

 right time of the year — that is, in the spring, before the leaves ap- 

 pear. The grafts may be cut any time in mild weather in winter, 

 tied in small bundles, and kept in moist sand until wanted. By 

 means of cleft-grafting the fruit-grower changes with advantage the 

 products of trees of the same species, making the head bear fruit 

 and flowers' other than those belonging to the principal stem; 



The only tools for grafting on the farm are a sharp panel saw, a 

 keen pocket-knife; for paring the stalks and sharpening the grafts, a 

 butcher-knife and mallet for splitting the staTks, and grafting-Wax 

 for spreading over the mutilated parts. ■ , , 



The Benefits of Grafting. 



Old orchards of inferior fruit may be entirely remade and re- 

 formed by grafting the limbs with such varieties as we may desire. 

 A new life is by this process often infused into the trees, which is 

 due to. the very, severe pruning they then receive. In renewing an 

 old orchard tree by grafting its head, it will not be a gobd plan to 

 attempt the whole tree at once, as the pruning would be too severe, ' 

 and would be followed by a profusion of succulent shoots breaking 

 out from the large branches, such as are called water sprouts. 



Those who have practiced most, prefer at first to remove about 

 one third of the limbs for grafting, and those should be selected at 

 the top of the tree. The next year another third of the limbs may 

 be grafted, and the remainder the year following. A good grafting- 

 wax is made by melting'together four parts of rosin, two of tallow, 

 and two of beeswax. 



The necessity for grafting is becoming less frequent of late 

 years, as the large nursery concerns throughout the land are fur- 

 nishing fruit-trees budded or grafted to bear such fruit as we choose 

 to buy. We have now before us beautiful catalogues of the differ- 

 ent varieties of fruits, with long lists of names and descriptions of 

 each, from which we may select such as suit our individual fancy, 

 and order the trees which, in case we deal with a reliable nursery, 

 will bear fruits true to their names. 



Practical Suggestions in Selecting Nursery Stock. 



Here let us say a few words to those of our readers who con- 

 template buying nursery stock. Never buy of an agent. When you 



