PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 



337 



the bark is then removed from each at the intended 

 point of union, say from an inch to three inches 

 in length, according to the size and strength of 

 the subjects ; these parts are fitted together so 

 that the inner barks of both coincide, and the 

 process of tying and claying or waxing follows 

 as in common grafting. Some, however, tongue 

 the scion and stock in the same manner as is 

 done in tongue-grafting. In either way the 

 cambium shortly becomes developed, the albur- 

 num of the scion and stock becomes united; and 

 when this is accomplished, the scion may be cut 

 off a little below where it is united to the stock, 

 either at one operation, or only partially cut 

 through first, and in a few days completely 

 severed. A week or two after the union has 

 taken place, the remaining portion of the scion, 

 if any was left on when separated from the parent 

 plant, should be cut off close to the stock, that the 

 wound may heal over, and leave the stem as per- 

 fect as possible. Side inarching without tonguing 

 is well adapted for young shoots of camellias, 

 oranges, &c. ; and when the wood of both scion 

 and stock is soft, and full of sap, a union speedily 

 takes place. Tongue inarching is useful when 

 both or either stock and scion are more fully 

 matured, and are somewhat hard and dry. 



Inarching with partially-nourished scions only 

 differs from the modes we have described above, 

 in having the lower end of the scion inserted in 

 a phial or bottle of water. This water should 

 be changed from time to time, and at each re- 

 newal a very thin slice should be removed from 

 the scion, by which its vessels will be kept 

 open, and be able to draw up sufficient support 

 to the graft until adhesion has taken place. 

 Sometimes the end of the shoot is placed in a 

 pot of damp soil, and at others stuck into a 

 potato or turnip. 



Grafting-clay is prepared by mixing three 

 parts of strong clay with one of horse or cow 

 dung, separated from straw or litter, but having 

 a small quantity of hair, such as is used in pre- 

 paring plaster lime, mixed with it, to render it 

 more adhesive and less liable to fall off. This 

 mixture should be well incorporated and spread 

 out on a hard flooring, and beaten with mallets 

 or clubs, turning it frequently and giving a little 

 water, and beating again until reduced to a very 

 strong plaster, and fit for being put on with the 

 hands, and for remaining on both in wet and 

 dry weather without crumbling or cracking. 

 The addition of the hair will be found better 

 than using straw or hay, as is usually done. Some 

 recommend the addition of a little salt, with a 

 view to preserve the moisture, which, if not too 

 abundantly applied, may have its advantages. 



Grafting-wax. — Of this there are many forms, 

 the principal of which are wax and rosin, wax 

 and pitch, tallow and rosin or pitch melted 

 together, and used in a melted but not in a 

 very hot state. Sometimes these are applied in 

 the form of dough or putty ; at other times they 

 are spread on paper, cotton, linen, &c, and cut 

 into narrow strips. For very delicate plants 

 the latter forms are the best, and we believe that, 

 for ordinary purposes, for exotic plants, cobblers' 

 wax is better than any, as it can be applied in a 

 cold state ; whereas the heat at which most of 



the others will be of sufficient consistency and 

 ductility for putting on must be too great for 

 very tender plants, more especially when in a 

 soft and herbaceous state. One of the best pre- 

 parations for this purpose is that recommended 

 by Mr Powell — viz., 1 lb. of pitch, 1 lb. of rosin, 

 \ lb. bees'- wax, \ lb. hogs' lard, \ lb. turpentine, 

 melted and mixed well together ; this composi- 

 tion to be, while in a fluid state, spread upon 

 sheets of moderately thin brown paper, which, 

 when cold, is to be cut into slips about three 

 quarters of an inch in breadth. The scion, when 

 fitted to the stock, is to be wound round with 

 one of these slips, which, when breathed upon, 

 becomes soft and limp, and when cold, suffi- 

 ciently adhesive to remain on until purposely 

 taken off. Plastic wax, which is as pliable as 

 the last, is thus prepared : Common sealing- 

 wax, any colour except green, one part ; white 

 wax, one part ; mutton fat, one part ; and honey, 

 one- eighth of a part. Melt the fat and white 

 wax first, add the sealing-wax gradually in small 

 pieces, and lastly, put in the honey just before 

 taking it off the fire ; pour it into tin moulds, 

 and keep shaking it till it begins to congeal. 

 When breathed upon, or similarly slightly 

 heated, it is fit for use. 



In grafting, there are certain important re- 

 quisites which must be attended to, whatever 

 mode of performing the operation may be 

 adopted. These requisites are thus noticed by 

 Professor Balfour, in his recently published 

 excellent " Class Book of Botany," p. 659 : " In 

 the case of dicotyledonous trees, care must be 

 taken to bring the growing parts into contact — 

 the two alburnums and the two libers. We 

 cannot expect that the old wood of trees, in 

 which the active processes of plant life have 

 ceased, will unite. The plants on which graft- 

 ing is practised must be botanically allied, or, 

 at all events, there must be a similarity in the 

 composition of their sap. Union may take 

 place between plants which, in their natural 

 state, require the same chemical ingredients in 

 the same proportions. This is generally the 

 case with varieties of the same species, more 

 rarely with plants of different species, and least 

 frequently with such as belong to different 

 genera. The lemon may be grafted on the 

 orange, because, as Lindley says, the sap of the 

 latter contains all the earthy and saline sub- 

 stances which the former requires, and can sup- 

 ply them in sufficient quantity to the engrafted 

 twig. But the fig or the grape would not 

 flourish and ripen fruit on the same stock, be- 

 cause these fruits require other substances than 

 the root of the orange extracts from the soil, 

 or in greater quantity than the sap of the 

 orange can supply them. The sap of the stock, 

 in order that grafting may be successful, must 

 contain all that the engrafted bud or shoot re- 

 quires in every stage of its growth. If the pot- 

 ash or lime required by the grape be not taken 

 up, and in sufficient quantity, by the root of 

 the orange, it will be in vain to engraft the for- 

 mer upon the latter, with the hope of its coming 

 to maturity or yielding perfect fruit. Grafting 

 of varieties on the stem of the species whence 

 they are derived is very common, and is con- 



