26 



formed in Spring when the sap is rising, the scions 

 being of two-year-old wood. 



Seedling stocks may be successfully grafted at from 

 two to six years old ; but in using two-year-old wood 

 for scions it is as well that the stock should be not 

 much more than the same age, in order that there may 

 be not more sap than is sufficient to effect the junction, 

 thus saving the trouble of keeping down suckers and 

 surplus shoots. It is well known, by those who have 

 intelligently studied the practice of horticulture, that 

 the stock is sometimes affected by the scion; and it 

 would appear that the ancients applied the knowledge 

 of this fact by grafting, upon decayed or worn-out 

 Olive trees, branches from a vigorous wild tree, thus 

 infusing fresh vitality into the old stock. This process 

 is described by Pliny as making a new tree " bloom 

 " forth in youth from an old one " ; and he states that 

 this is done " again and again as often as there is need, 

 " so that the same Olive plantations last for ages." 

 In these more advanced days, however, the same effect 

 may be more naturally and easily produced by securing 

 the tree from decay by high cultivation, pruning, and 

 perfect drainage. Erom the same authority, we learn 

 that the ordinary processes of grafting and budding 

 were practised on the Olive. 



Truncheons are very stout cuttings, varying in 

 length from one foot to ten feet, and in diameter from 

 one and a-half to six inches, according to the method 

 adopted in planting them. Truncheons are planted in 

 two ways, each having its advocates. Under one method 

 the pieces might with more propriety be called "poles " 

 when they reach the length of eight and ten feet. But 

 while the advocates of this method give the range of 

 length from four up to ten feet, they have a correspond- 

 ing difference in the depth to which they open the holes to 

 receive them, which ranges from twenty inches to four 

 feet. It is probable, therefore, that where the soil is 

 deep and well drained, it is found preferable to plant 

 deep ; and then in order to have sufficient height above 



