GRAFTING. 



129 



GRAFTING. 



parts of the scion and the stock which 

 are to be united, their perfect union 

 cannot be effected. The operation 

 ought also to be performed with ra- 

 pidity, so as to expose the naked sec- 

 tions of the scion and stock for as few 

 moments as possibe to the atmo- 

 sphere. "When the plants to be grafted 

 are in pots, they should immediately 

 afterwards be placed in a gentle heat, 

 and kept moist; and, if covered with 



fig. 21. 



GRAFTING, WITH THE END OF THE SCION 

 IN A BOTTLE OF WATER. 



a bell-glass, so much the better. The 

 latter practice may be considered as 

 essential in the case of grafted orange 

 trees, Camellias, Rhododendrons, 

 Daphnes, Arbutus, Magnolias, &c. 

 Grafts made in the open air, on very 

 small plants, may sometimes be co- 

 vered with hand-glasses, or slightly 

 sheltered or shaded till they have 



begun to grow ; and the soil may be 

 covered with litter, or rotten tan, or 

 leaves, to retain the moisture. Where 

 no pains are spared, the soil may be 

 warmed immediately after grafting, 

 by watering it with a few pots of hot 

 water. After the scion has made 

 shoots a few inches in length, the 

 clay may be removed and the matting 

 loosened ; but care must be taken not 

 to do this too soon. The proper time 

 may always be known by observing 

 whether the edge of the scion exhibits 

 a granulating process, closely uniting 

 it with the stock. Tn general, in the 

 course of the month of August, all 

 the matting from plants grafted in the 

 open air may be removed ; and with 

 those under glass, this may be done 

 much sooner. 



Grafting clay is made of clayey 

 loam, or brick-earth, mixed with 

 about a fourth part of fresh horse- 

 dung, free from litter, and a portion 

 of hay cut into pieces about an inch 

 in length, adding a little water, and 

 beating the whole together for several 

 hours. On a small scale, however, 

 this preparation is not necessary ; as 

 either moist clay alone, or cow- dung, 

 may be plastered over the graft, and 

 covered with moss, or even with 

 coarse paper ; the moss, or paper, 

 being tied on with matting. The use 

 of the covering is to exclude the air, 

 and consequently to retain the moisture 

 of the scion and stock, and also an 

 agreeable degree of temperature, in 

 order that the vessels of the two 

 woods may be able to unite. 



Grafting wax is composed of bees- 

 wax and pitch, with some tallow, and 

 a little rosin ; at first melted and 

 mixed together, and afterwards heated 

 as wanted. The proportions are of no 

 great consequence. The mixture is 

 kept in an earthen pot, in which it 

 may be heated when wanted ; and it 

 is laid on with a brush till it is a 

 quarter of an inch thick ; and, if 

 K 



