150 



GRAFTING. 



insertion of scions at such places as you please. And I am 

 certain that they adhere more firmly, and are less liable to 

 injury from rain or violent winds, than those inserted in a 

 different manner ; and, if properly inserted, probably not one 

 in fifty will fail. 



" On one tree, to which I gave an entire new top last year, 

 and which had never before blossomed, several iine apples 

 were produced and ripened in perfection, although the 

 scions blossomed about one month later than the parent 

 tree. I ought, perhaps, to add, that one cause of the success 

 and extraordinary growth of some of the scions I have 

 inserted in this way is doubtless the severe pruning I have 

 given the trees about the time they were engrafted ; and 

 it may be proper to state, that I have experimented only 

 upon apple-trees, although I am aware of no reason why 

 this mode should not answer equally well on most other 

 kmds of fruit-trees, where budding and grafting could be 

 successfully performed. I have sent you by the packet a 

 specimen of the new mode of engrafting, which is indeed 

 of very extraordinary growth ; the scion was inserted the 

 5th of September, 1824, being the growth of the same year : 

 the leaves of that season died and dropped OiF, new ones 

 were disclosed, and new buds formed the same autumn, 

 and the two branches are the entire growth of last year, 

 and of the following dimensions, namely; -main branch, 

 five and a half feet in length ; secondary, four feet and a 

 half ; circumference of main branch at the base, 2^ inches ; 

 the other somewhat less. I have taken off some of the 

 wood of the tree in the bark, of which the scion was in- 

 serted, in order that you may perceive how firmly and per- 

 fectly it has united with the main stock, which was a scrub 

 apple-tree, and in which two or three scions v»^ere likewise 

 inserted in the ordinary mode, whose growth, I think, is less 

 than one half of the one sent you, engrafted in the new 

 way." 



Future treatment, — In a month after grafting, it may be 

 ascertained whether the scion has united with the stock, by 

 observing the progress of its buds ; but, in general, it is not 

 safe to remove the clay for three months or more, till the 

 graft be completely cicatrized. The clay may generally be 

 taken ofi* in July or August, and at the same time the liga- 

 ture** loosened, where the scion seems to require more room 

 to expand; a few weeks afterwards, when the parts have 

 been thus partially inured to the air, and when there is no 

 danger of the scion being blown off by winds, the whole of 



