166 



ON GRAFTING* 



subsist between the stock and the scion, as plants 

 will not unite and harmonize from their similar 

 external appearances. It is necessary that the 

 stock and the scion should be both of the same 

 family, or lineage, according to the sexual system 

 of botany, in order to form a substantial and last- 

 ing union. 



Having pointed out some of the principal ad- 

 vantages accruing from engrafting of the Vine, I 

 shall now explain the method of performing the 

 manual operation. 



At the pruning season, make choice of cuttings 

 for grafts, or scions, from the best bearing branches 

 of the sorts of Vines intended to be propagated. 

 In general, the bottom part of the last year's shoot 

 is to be preferred ; but in well-ripened vigorous 

 wood, any part of the shoot will answer, provided 

 it be not too long-jointed. The cuttings should be 

 preserved in pots till the grafting season, in the 

 manner already described, page 69, &c. 



The proper season to graft Vines depends upon 

 their situation. Vines in a pine-stove should be 

 grafted in the beginning of January, but the 

 middle of March is a proper season to graft Vines 

 growing in the open air. In general, Vines should 

 be grafted about three weeks before they begin to 

 break into bud. 



Upon small stocks, not more than one inch in 

 diameter, cleft-grafting will be found the most 

 proper ; but upon larger stocks whip-grafting is 

 to be preferred. 



