TREATISE ON THE CULTURE, &c. m 



a tree of another, may be rather said to take root in the tree 

 that it is grafted in, than to unite itself with it : For it is visi- 

 ble, that the cion preserves its natural purity and intent, though 

 it be fed and nourished by a mere crab ; which is without doubt, 

 occasioned by the difference of the vessels in the cion from 

 those of the stock j so that grafting may be justly compared to 

 planting. 



In prosecution of this view, of that ingenious author, we 

 add, that the natural juices of the earth, by the secretion and 

 comminution in passing through the roots, &c. before they ar- 

 rive at the cion, must doubtless arrive there half elaborated 

 and concocted, and so disposed for a more easy, plentiful, and 

 perfect assimilation and nutrition ; whence the cion must ne- 

 cessarily grow and thrive better and faster than if it were put 

 immediately in the ground, there to live on coarser diet and 

 harder of digestion ; and the fruit produced by this further pre- 

 paration in the cion must be finer, and further exalted, than if 

 fed immediately from the more imperfectly prepared and alter- 

 ed juices of the stock. It may, perhaps, be thought unneces- 

 sary to say any thing here on grafting, as it has been so fully 

 treated of by Mr. Miller, and other writers on gardening ; but 

 as this treatise is principally on pruning and training, grafting 

 seems naturally connected with it. 



I persuade myself, therefore, that a few instructions in 

 grafting will not be unacceptable, as they may save the reader 

 the trouble of turning to other books ; especially as they are 

 more particularly intended for the grafting of old trees, and 

 such as are found, when they come to bear, to be a different 

 sort from what was expected : For, although nurserymen in 

 general are very careful in these matters, yet, through the in- 

 attention of their men, or some mistake, or by an improper 

 choice of the sorts, it will frequently happen, that, after wait- 

 ing thirteen or fourteen years, when the trees come to bear, 

 the fruit is found of a bad quality, and not fit for use ; so that 

 new grafting or budding is absolutely necessary. 



I shall, therefore, give what directions may be necessary 

 on that subject, to render it plain and easy to those who have 

 not been regularly instructed in the art of grafting from ge- 

 neral practice j and add a method which I have followed for 

 some years, and which I flatter myself will be found an im- 

 provement. 



The shoots used in grafting are called cions, or grafts ; 

 and in the choice of these the following directions should be 

 carefully observed, 1st. That they are shoots of the former 

 year } for when they are older they never succeed well. 2dly. 



