116 



fourth of an inch in diameter ; four to six inches long, 

 and with not less than three buds. One bud should 

 be low down at the tongue end of the scion, that is 

 of the end inserted into the stock, for we have observed 

 that scions having such a bud have generally taken 

 the most successfully. 



The part of the tree from whence the scion is taken 

 is far from immaterial. The lower branches on the 

 south side of the tree, provided they are well exposed 

 to the light, and shoots from the main trunk of a 

 branch rather than from its spray, are to be greatly 

 preferred. Mr. Knight most approved of the shoots 

 emitted from the main stem, being of opinion that 



the decay of many varieties (such as the Gilliflower 

 Apple, which in my estimation is and always was 

 without a rival in the climate of England) might be 

 greatly retarded by propagating it from scions which 

 have recently sprung from the trunks of old trees, in 

 obedience to the instructions of Virgil (whose autho- 

 rity is however generally of little value), and probably 

 of Hyginus, ^ summa ne pete flagella.' {Trans. 

 Hort. Soc. i. 149, N.S.) 



With regard to the opinions here expressed, we 

 would say that the selection of scions from new and 

 vigorous kinds of strong constitutions and from old 

 and partially worn out sorts, are two very different 

 affairs. We would always take the scion from a situ- 

 ation fully exposed to sunlight, and from the subordi- 



