16 



THE OECHAED AJ^D FEITIT GAEDEJN', 



the root, branch, or stem of another, for it to grow and 

 take life from the root, the scion and stock must be of 

 nearly related species. 



The uses of grafting are many. By it trees of a 

 desired kind may be multiplied to almost any extent. 

 Those of too puny or too rampant a habit, may be 

 adjusted by grafting on a stock of greater or less vigour 

 of growth than the tree itself. AYhen seedling trees 

 are grafted, it accelerates their productiveness; shoots 

 from seedlings will be hastened into bearing by being 

 grafted on stocks, and kinds may be adapted to soils 

 in which they would not do well on their own roots, by 

 being grafted on stocks suited to the locality. Lastly, 

 old kinds may be renovated, renewed, and saved from 

 annihilation, to some extent, by grafts. 



The nature of the stock does not change that of the 

 fruit of the scion ; it only conveys nourishment to it, so 

 that it may alter it in productiveness, and in some 

 degree in size, but not in form, flavour, or other pro- 

 perties more intimately belonging to the kind. 



To facilitate the rising of the sap, the stock should 

 be in rather a forwarder state of growth than the graft. 

 If the parent tree and the stock be in an equal state of 

 forwardness, it is best to cut the grafts, and stick their 

 ends into the earth in a cool, shady spot, and leave them 

 for a certain number of days, or even for some weeks. 

 The operation should be performed neatly and promptly, 

 and none but a keen, clean knife used, for dirt or a 

 ragged cut is likely to prevent success. Eoth stock and 

 scion should be in a thoroughly healthy condition. 

 Kever cut for a scion an unhealthy-lookiug twig, or one 

 which is faulty in the bark, but choose fine, healthy^ 

 well-ripened shoots of the preceding year's growth. 



There are several different kinds of grafting, but 

 whatever the kind, the manipulation is similar in all 

 important points. The stock for almost all grafting is 

 topped back to the proper height, it and the scion 

 cleanly cut to fit each other, the scion or graft accurately 

 adjusted and tied on with firmness and precision, from 

 a little below to a little above the union, taking care 



