THE PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 139 



be propagated by cuttings. Hence the necessity of the 

 third method commonly practiced, — that of uniting two 

 plants. 



A bud or twig of the variety desired is united with a root 

 grown from a seed, called a seedling root, so that the two 

 grow together, forming a single plant. The upper part of 

 the tree so formed will then bear the desired variety of 

 fruit. 



If a twig and root are caused to unite in this way, the 

 process is known as grafting, the root being referred to as 

 the stock while the twig is known as the don. If a bud 

 is inserted in the stem and allowed to develop until it 

 becomes a part or all of the top, the process is known as 

 budding. 



EXERCISE 39 



Object. — To learn how to propagate plants by 

 grafting. 



Procedure. — Procure from some nursery company 

 as many apple seedling roots, or stocks, as you wish to 

 make grafts. Gather some fresh, firm twigs of last season's 

 growth from the apple tree you wish to propagate. 



Provide strips of old musUn or cahco, which has been 

 dipped in a hot wax made as follows : Melt together in an 

 old pan or other dish resin, 4 parts ; beeswax, 2 parts ; 

 and tallow, 1 part. After the cloth has cooled, tear it 

 into strips about one eighth of an inch wide and six inches 

 or more in length. 



The cion and stock to be joined together should be 

 equal in diameter and small. The former should be cut 

 back to a length of five or six inches if it is longer than this. 

 Both should be cut off obliquely, the bevel, as well as the 

 length of the cut, being the same on the two pieces. Each 

 should now be split at a. point near the middle, the spht. 



