PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 



325 



latent buds with which their bark is everywhere 

 replete. From these, provided the stem be not 

 cut over below the original graft, abundance of 

 material would be provided for the future for- 

 mation of the tree. But if care be not early 

 taken to rub off all the buds as they begin to 

 develop themselves, leaving only the proper 

 numbers, and those well placed, the one would 

 rob the other ; and before a selection is made, 

 the season of growth may be nearly terminated. 

 Besides, in this case, if the tree be large, or of 

 an indifferent variety, no change for the better 

 takes place — only the renewal of the tree, which 

 will be some years in coming into a bearing 

 state. It were better, under such circumstan- 

 ces, to graft the tree with more choice kinds, 

 which would not only give an improved quality 

 of fruit, but that fruit would be produced within 

 a much shorter space of time. The grafts could 

 also be put on where the branches are required 

 to be; and the sap being directed at once 

 into proper channels, the shoots would attain 

 a size and maturity, before autumn sets in, 

 which would enable them to elaborate the 

 necessary sap for the formation of fruit-buds 

 within a very short space of time. The process 

 of heading down and grafting old fruit-trees is 

 a much neglected part of fruit-tree culture ; and 

 we need not point to commercial orchards only, 

 when we see so many cases where a different 

 course might be expected. 



One of the advantages of this mode of grafting 

 is, that the organisable matter deposited in the 

 roots and the part of the trunk left, is thrown 

 with great force into the scions, causing them 

 to make strong and vigorous shoots ; but as they 

 cannot take up all this organisable matter at 

 once, it is stored up for them in the interior 

 of the tree, and supplied to the branches, in 

 future years, as it is wanted : whereas, if the 

 tree operated upon be not cut down entirely to 

 one stem, but its branches only partially 

 shortened, and part of them only furnished with 

 scions, these branches will attract the juices to 

 themselves, and greatly weaken the scions, if 

 indeed they do not entirely perish. 



Grafting several sorts on one tree. — In heading 

 down old trees of large size, particularly in 

 small gardens where only a few trees can be 

 accommodated, this process may be advanta- 

 geously adopted, and a variety procured. Even 

 on one apple or pear tree, both early-ripening 

 and late-keeping sorts may be produced, thus 

 affording a long succession of fruit ; whereas, if 

 only one kind be grown, that season is greatly 

 diminished. Many varieties of camellias may, 

 in like manner, be produced from one plant, 

 affording a greater variety as well as a long suc- 

 cession of blooms. 



Grafting to produce a reduction in size. — This 

 is effected by working the apple on the paradise 

 or doucin stock, the pear on the medlar or 

 quince ; while, to produce a contrary effect, the 

 former is grafted on the crab, and the latter on 

 the wild-pear stock. Dwarf fruit-trees are 

 valuable in small gardens ; and indeed some 

 nurserymen, such as Mr Rivers, have planted 

 whole miniature orchards, the trees being much 

 the size of ordinary gooseberry bushes. 

 VOL. II. 



Choice of grafts. — These should be chosen 

 from the young shoots of the previous summer 

 growth, if indeed the operation be not per- 

 formed by using scions of the same season's 

 growth, as practised by Knight, the Baron 

 Tschudy, and others ; but for general practice 

 the outside lateral shoots are preferred, because 

 they are less robust, and less apt to run to wood, 

 than those from the centre or top of the tree, 

 and not so weak as those at its base, and under 

 the shade and drip of the rest. Besides this, 

 they are better ripened, and are found from ex- 

 perience to produce the truest specimens of the 

 fruit of the tree from which they are taken. 

 " An exception to this rule is to be found when 

 the trees are in a sickly state, when, of course, 

 the grafts should be taken from the strong 

 shoots in the centre, or near the top of the tree. 

 The ends of each scion should be cut off, and 

 the middle part only used, rejecting both the top 

 and the base of the shoot. The grafts should 

 be cut off the parent tree some time previous to 

 their being used, experience having shown that 

 it is necessary to allow the stock to have the ad- 

 vantage over the graft in forwardness of vegeta- 

 tion. The sap of the stock should be in active 

 motion at the time of grafting, which would 

 also be the case with the scion, if left on the 

 parent tree ; whereas the grafts being taken off 

 some time before, the buds will be unavoidably 

 kept back, and ready only to swell when placed 

 upon the stock. Grafts should be collected any 

 time in January or the beginning of February, 

 and kept at their whole length, laid in dry 

 mould, in a situation where they are not exposed 

 to either frost or much sunshine, until they 

 are to be used." — Practical Gardener. 



Choice of stocks. — Such stocks must always be 

 chosen as have a near affinity to the scion to be 

 put upon them. There is, however, another 

 reason why a judicious choice of stocks should be 

 made — namely, that they may be adapted to the 

 soil they are to be planted in. Hence, where the 

 soil is damp, and subject to be overflowed occa- 

 sionally with water, such as meadows by river 

 sides, &c.,the quince will be found the best stock 

 for the pear ; whereas in dry sandy soils it would 

 be the very worst. Again, the white-beam 

 tree is the most proper stock for the pear in 

 chalky soils ; in such soils even the pear stock 

 would scarcely live. On properly adapting the 

 stock to the soil, and the variety to the climate, 

 much of the success in fruit-tree culture depends. 



The influence of the slock upon the graft. — On 

 this subject opinions have long been at variance, 

 and it appears also to have attracted notice at 

 an early period. The following may be regarded 

 as the leading opinions offered : " Crab stocks 

 cause apples to be firmer, to keep longer, and to 

 have a sharper flavour. If the breaking pears 

 be grafted on a quince stock, the fruit is ren- 

 dered gritty or strong, while the melting pears 

 are much improved on such stocks." — Miller. 

 " The scion overruleth the graft quite, the 

 stock being passive only." — Lord Bacon. " This, 

 as a general proposition, remains true, it being 

 evident that the scion, bud, or inarched shoot, 

 is endowed with the power of drawing or form- 

 ing from the stock that peculiar kind of nour- 



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