115 



apple, and by transferring, in the same manner, the 

 farina of the apple to the blossom of the Siberian 

 Crab. The leaf and the habit of many of the plants 

 thus obtained, possess much of the character of the 

 apple, whilst they vegetate as early in the spring as 

 the crab of Siberia, and possess at least an equal power 

 of bearing cold ; and Mr. Knight obtained two plants 

 of the family which were quite as hardy as the most 

 austere crab of our woods. 



Grafting is the most usual and successful mode of 

 propagating established varieties, and whip or tongue 

 grafting are those usually adopted. 



Scions, — At whatever season grafts are intended to 

 be inserted, the branches which are to form them 

 should be taken from the parent stock during the 

 winter, and not later than the end of the preceding 

 year ; for if the buds have begun to vegetate, in the 

 smallest degree, (and they begin with the increasing 

 influence of the sun,) the vigour of the shoots, during 

 the first season, will be diminished ; and the grafts 

 will not succeed with equal certainty ; though a graft 

 of the apple-tree very rarely fails, unless by accidental 

 injury, or great want of skill in the operator. The 

 amputated branches must be kept alive, till wanted, 

 by having the end of each planted in the ground, a few^ 

 inches deep, in a shady situation. {Knight on Apple, 

 55.) 



The scions should be of one-year-old wood, one- 



