334 



D'ALBKET'S VARIETIES 



axil of one of its leayes, or of an eye, Tlie stem should be cut back a 

 little aboTe the place intended for the insertion of the scion, always 

 taking care that the stump has one or two eyes left, or some small 

 branchlets, leaves, &e. Make in the stock a cut somewhat slanting 

 downwards, tUl it reach the pith, dividing it into two nearly equal 

 parts. The cleft should be made by a single cut, and as quickly as 

 possible, so that the blade of the knife may not have time to deposit 

 iron-rust, which is always injurious to vegetation. The place being 

 thus prepared, the scion is inserted, and must be maintained in its 

 position, and otherwise attended to according to the practice in other 

 eases. This mode possesses many advantages ; for it is appReable to 

 plants whose branches are of the smallest possible dimensions. I have 

 grafted in this way Heaths and Junipers which were scarcely one- 

 twenty-fifth of an inch in diameter. Oaks, Beeches, Walnuts, and 

 Chestnuts, &c., either in the solid, or herbaceous state, generally take 

 well by this mode. "We can easily com- 

 prehend the advantages which arise from 

 the small stump being' reserved for the 

 purpose of drawing the sap, which, forced 

 to coUect in it, descends along" the bark, 

 and powerfully contributes to the union 

 of the adjoining parts. During the time 

 that the graft is taking, the sprouts that 

 appear on the small stump should be 

 pinched, or otherwise kept in check; 

 after the graft has fairly taken the stump 

 should be gradually reduced, till it en- 

 tirely disappears. 



Crown Grafting. — The name of this 

 sufficiently indicates the manner in which 

 it is performed (see Fig. LXIII.). It is 

 adapted for regrafting large old Pear and 

 Apple-trees, but not stone fruits. The stocks 

 should he treated in February like trees 

 intended to be cleft-grafted. It does not 

 make old trees young, as has been stated 

 by many authors ; but it gives them a 

 somewhat youthful appearance by the 

 renewal of their branches. It is an advan- 

 tageous substitute for lopping in good 

 sorts, because shoots from grafts are 

 more proper for training than those are 

 which spring naturally through the old bark. "We know the proper 

 time by the 'motion of sap in some shoots set apart, as in cleft- 

 grafting ; or we may ascertain whether the bark of the stock is able to 



Pig. Lxm, 



