122 



Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



Grafting and Budding. — When plants are grown from 

 seeds they often differ from the parent plant, owing to the fact 

 that the ovules have been cross fertilized, i.e. pollen has been 

 brought from another variety or species. Grafting is resorted 

 to in order to ensure retaining a desirable fru t. By this method, 

 new and delicate varieties may be introduced into the country 

 by grafting on to hardy plants, as in grafting varieties of grape 

 on to the American vines. 



Grafting has another advantage, as trees grown from seed 

 take several years to bear fruit. Buds of the first or second 

 order, that is, the bud at the tip of the main stem and those 

 that are borne in the axils of its leaves, do not develop fiuit- 

 buds, but leaf-spurs. By using grafting scions of a higher 

 order, fruit will be borne much sooner. 



To graft in a simple form, select two branches of the same 



species ; cut from each a por- 

 tion of the bark and a little 

 wood, which will be bordered 

 by a ring of cambium. Bring 

 the two cut surfaces together 

 and bind them firmly. When 

 the two have united, one 

 may be cut from the parent 

 stock. Sometimes it is de- 

 sirable to graft a small scion 

 on to a larger stock. The 

 stock is cut off, the scion is 

 pointed at the lower end and 

 thrust in between the wood 

 and the bark. The stock is 

 prevented from, drying by a 

 covering of clay or grafting 

 wax. Drying would kill the 

 cambium. 



Budding is a form of 

 grafting. A single bud with a portion of wood is inserted 

 into a T-shapcd opening of the stock. This method is used 

 with especial success with Oranges, Apricots, and Roses. 



Fig. no. — \^^^ioi P!n'of>hy/hnn. Little 

 plants aiv borne all along the edges 

 of the fies'iy leaf. The\- send out 

 roots, tall off, and start new plants. 



