32 



PROPAGATION. 



Care OF Grafts. — In cutting, the name maybe kept tem- 

 porarily by writing with a common lead-pencil on a shaved 

 portion of the shoot (Fig. 37) ; but for packing away perma- 

 nently, write the name on both sides of a strip of shingle, say 

 a foot long and half an inch wide (Fig. 38), and tie this up 

 with the scions, the outside writing readily showing the name, 

 the inner to refer to in case the outside is erased (Fig. 39)'. 

 Scions not fully hardy, as of most sorts of plums, should be 



Fig. 41. 



FIG. 43. 



Fig. 43. 



Fig. 44. 



cut early in winter, or before they have been exposed and in- 

 jured by severe cold. 



In order to send scions by mail, they are best put up by enclos- 

 ing them in cases of oil-silk (such as is used for hat-lining), 

 by wrapping the oil-silk about the scions and over the ends, 

 and then passing a fine thread repeatedly' round from end to 

 end, making the whole air-tight (Fig. 40). The natural moist- 

 ure is thus preserved, and they cannot shrivel. The names 

 should be written with pencil on the ends, and no paper for 

 this purpose wrapped around them, as it absorbs the moisture. 



