ON GRAFTING. 



167 



In both methods, much care should be taken in 

 fitting the stock and scion together, and the oper- 

 ation should be performed with great exactness. 



When the stock and scion are well fitted, the 

 graft should be fastened with the strands of bass- 

 matting, and should then be covered with clay in 

 the usual way. 



Vines do not harmonize with so much freedom 

 as commoner fruit ; for though the scion will some- 

 times begin to push in a few weeks, yet it will fre- 

 quently remain in a dormant state for two or three 

 months ; and during this period, it will be neces- 

 sary to strip the stock of all the shoots it may pro- 

 duce as soon as they appear ; and, in order to 

 preserve the scion in a vegetative state, it will be 

 absolutely necessary to keep the clay moderately 

 moist, which may easily be effected by wrapping it 

 round with moistened moss, and keeping the moss 

 constantly sprinkled with water. 



When the scion has made shoots five or six 

 inches long, the clay and bandage should be care- 

 fully taken off; and the clay may be removed, with- 

 cut injuring the graft, when it is in a moist state. 



Vines will frequently prove successful by both 

 the above-mentioned methods, but still the most 

 eligible way of all seems to me to be that of graft- 

 ing by approach : indeed I have seldom known 

 any plants miscarry, that have been grafted this 

 way. Now in this case it is necessary to have the 

 plant, intended to be propagated, growing in a 

 pot. Strong plants, that have been two or three 



H 4. 



