MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 137 



when the sap is flowing, at which time the cion and stock 

 will join together, and unite much sooner than at any other 

 season. 



The walnut, fig, and mulberry, will take by this method 

 of grafting, but neither of these will succeed in any of the other 

 methods ; there are also several sorts of evergreens that may 

 be propagated by this method of grafting ; but all the trees 

 that are grafted in this way are weaker, and never grow to the 

 size of those which are grafted in the other methods ; therefore 

 this is rarely practised but on such sorts of trees as will not 

 take by the other methods. 



Observations on Grafting, 



In a long continuance of dry weather the grafts very fre- 

 quently fail of taking ; sometimes, no doubt, owing to the impro- 

 per choice of the grafts, as well as to the dry weather. Great care 

 should always be taken not to graft with weak shoots, particu- 

 larly those taken from near the top. Always take your grafts 

 from the lower end of the shoots, and observe that the wood 

 is plump and fresh ; for such as are shrivelled seldom or never 

 take. Where any have missed in the spring, I would advise 

 to cut off, about the middle or latter end of June, (in America, 

 the middle of July) some fine healthy grafts of the sort that 

 you wish to graft with, open the bark in the same manner as 

 you do for budding [of which hereafter], and insert the graft 

 with a piece of the former year's wood on it: After you have 

 done this, rub in, with a brush, some of , the composition in a 

 liquid state ; then wrap your bass round it, as is done for 

 spring grafting, leaving about three eyes on the shoot, which 

 should be tied on with the bass as tight as you can ; then cover 

 the outside of the bass, thus tied up, with the composition to 

 the thickness of about one eighth of an inch, observing also to 

 cover the end of the shoot with the same, to exclude the air 

 and wet. In about three weeks, or a month, look over the 

 grafts to see if they have taken. When the graft begins to 

 swell, it will throw off the composition : When that is the case, 

 always remember to apply more, to prevent the air from pene- 

 trating the incision. 



In the month of September, you should examine whether 

 the wounds are all healed up, and the two barks perfectly united ; 

 if they are, you may slacken the bass ; and if they are perfectly 

 healed up, it may be taken off ; but if not, the bass must again 

 be tied on, and covered with the composition as before directed ; 

 letting it remain till the following sprtng. You may then take 

 the bass off ; and, if you find that the two barks have separated 



