AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



227 



bear this treatment and make a full head of young sprouts, as 

 Fig. 108 B. But there is much risk of killing the tree if it 

 be old or feeble ; the ends of the limbs seldom heal so well as 

 if they had been crown grafted (see page 2313), and even after 

 buds or grafts have taken in such a tree, if at all neglected, 

 they are apt to be overgrown and destroyed by the sprouts. 



But in all large tree grafting it is highly important to give 

 careful after-treatment, as directed page 240. 



PREPARATION OP GRAFTS. 

 Fig. 109. 



&. Grafts cut to proper length. 



Scions for making grafts are taken from the young shoots of 

 the j)revious year's growth, rejecting the older wood, as well 

 as any blossom-buds that may have formed upon the younger ; 

 these are known by their round fullness, and are sometimes 

 chosen to gratify a fancy for producing a fruit from the graft 

 or bud the first year ; but the growth is always injured, and the 

 tree sometimes lost by the operation, which thus becomes too 

 expensive. They should be taken from the tree before the ap- 

 proach of spring, and either buried in sand or earth, or placed 

 butts downward in a small pit or grave on the north side of a 

 fence or building, and having sufficient straw packed over 

 them and alongside them to keep them from diying out or be- 

 coming dirty, except the butts, which, resting upon the bot- 

 tom, will obtain sufficient moisture to keep them fresh. When 

 taken out for use, let them be washed clean and cut up into 



