350 EOOTS AS STOCKS. 



are often taken as a substitute, and they answer the purpose 

 perfectly well ; for the circumstance which hinders the growth 

 of pieces of a root into young branches is merely their want of 

 buds : if a scion is grafted upon a root, that deficiency is 

 supplied, and the difference between the internal organization 

 of a root and a branch is so trifling as to oppose no obstacle to 

 the solid union of the two. 



Pear-trees are soiaetimes grafted on roots, and it was reported by the 

 late Mr. "Wedgewood that root-grafting Vines is an inrariable practice 

 in Greece. 



Knight was the first physiologist who showed the possi- 

 bility of grafting scions upon roots. An account of his 

 method of doing this was given at a very early period of the 

 existence of the Horticultural Society (June, 1811), and he at 

 the same time suggested the possibiHty of the practice being 

 applied to grafting scarce herbaceous plants upon the roots of 

 their commoner cogeners; an operation now commonly 

 practised with the Dahlia, Pseony, and other plants of a similar 

 kind; and lately a method of multiplying Combretum pur- 

 pureum by similar means has been pointed out in the 

 Proceedings of the Horticultural Society, i. 40. 



Mr. George Gordon, a good practical gardener, gives the following 

 advice upon this subject :■ — ^This operation is performed in two ways, 

 either by grafting on the already established roots of young plants, or 

 on pieces taken from the roots of older ones. The former is the easiest 

 method for obtaining strong plants, and is best suited for plants in 

 which a trunk is the object. In grafting upon already established 

 roots of a young plant, rfirst clear the soil away from the neck of the 

 stock, and cut the head off as much below the soil as possible, at the 

 same time observing that a sufflcient length of the neck is left to receive 

 the graft. The graft should be cut wedge-shaped, and inserted in the 

 slit or crown-graft way (p. 330), tied tightly with a soft worsted thread, 

 and afterwards covered with the soil, only a portion being left exposed 

 to light and air. It greatly increases the chances of success if the 

 worked plants are kept close, in a rather moist atmosphere for a few 

 days, until they commence growing, but much depends upon the 

 operation being performed at the proper time, which in most cases is 

 just before new growth commences. In grafting on pieces of roots 

 taken from an older plant, such pieces should be selected as are of 

 sufficient size to receive the scion, and have some small fibres attached 



