138 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



during the winter, with the point of a sharp knife, cut out all 

 the brown part of the bark (which, if left, would infallibly 

 bring on the canker), and rub the composition into the wound. 

 If your grafts have produced strong leading shoots, the tops 

 of them should be pinched off with the finger and thumb; but 

 if they have not shot strong, they should not be cut till the 

 spring, when they shou d be cut to three or four eyes, according 

 to their strength, to make them produce horizontal shoots, and 

 form handsome heads. This grafting should always be per- 

 formed in moist or cloudy weather. 



I have already, in the chapter on apple-trees, mentioned 

 the advantages to be derived from using the composition in- 

 stead of grafting-clay, and also given some directions for the 

 same. Rubbing a litde of it into the incision will effectually 

 prevent the canker, and in applying it round the graft a much 

 less quantity will be sufficient than of the clay ; as it need not 

 be more than three inches round in grafting small stems or 

 shoots, and so in proportion for those which are larger. The 

 composition will keep the cion moist, and will not crack and 

 fall off in dry weather as clay does. The composition to be 

 used in grafting should be of such a consistence as to work 

 easily with the hand, or a knife, or small trowel, rather softer 

 than grafting-clay generally is. Any person, who gives this 

 method a fair trial, will find it to be a sure, neat, and expedi- 

 tious way of grafting. 



Grafting, or budding, should be performed as near to the 

 upper side of a bud as possible. The most proper place for 

 inserting the cion, or bud, is at the joint a little above the cross 

 shoot. 



Inoculation, or Budding, 



This is commonly practised upon all sorts of stone fruit in 

 particular; such as peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, &c. 

 as also oranges and jasmines ; and is preferable to any sort of 

 grafting for most kinds of fruit. The method of performing 

 it is as follows : You must be provided with a sharp pen- 

 knife, or what is commonly called a budding-knife, having a 

 flat haft (the use of which is, to raise the bark of the stock to 

 admit the bud), and some sound bass mat, which should be 

 soaked in water to increase its strength, and make it more pli- 

 able ; then, having taken off cuttings from the trees that you 

 would propagate, you should choose a smooth part of the stock, 

 about five or six inches above the surface of the ground, if de- 

 signed for. dwarfs, and for half standards at three feet; but, for 

 standards, they should be budded six or more feet above the 



