PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 



67 



PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 



This is by means so simple an operation, though not a very difficult 

 matter; nevertheless, the pith in the centre of the wood is against it, 

 as well as the discrepancy in general between the stock and the scion. 

 The act of grafting is adopted for the same purpose as that of budding 

 — to propagate particular varieties. It is not so safe nor so certain a 

 mode as budding, but in the spring, there is no other means ; and as in 

 the purchase of new roses, there is generally a good deal of ripe wood 

 that must be cut orf, those who have stocks that are fit for grafting 

 frequently adopt it. There are various modes of perforrping this 

 operation ; one or two ways are applicable to the old wood of the 

 stock ; other modes are adapted to the last year's branches. In the 

 one case, a cleft is made in the stump of the stock, and the wood 

 belonging to the new Rose to be inserted is cut in an angular form to 

 fit it. It is then bound in its place by bass matting, or some other tie, 



(?0 



and the joins covered with grafting clay, or, which is more generally 

 used for roses, grafting wax ; a composition formed of beeswax and 

 resin, in equal parts, and a little tallow, to render it easily fusible 

 at a low heat, because the real object of this wax is to melt at a 

 heat which will not hurt the trees, but that will, on cooling, be suf- 

 ficiently hard to keep in its place, and bear even the heat of the sun 

 without running away. 



There are various modes of grafting the smaller branches of the 

 stock ; that is to say, the branches of the last year's growth. One 

 mode is, to cut the branch down to two inches in length, and then cut 

 3* 



