MATERIAL FOR TYING GRAFTS AND BUDS. 581 



matting ^ere as cheaply got as these^ tlie fact that the Rush 

 and Grass are ready rolled in twine-like fashion, should make 

 lis prefer them. In tying carefully it is necessary to twist 

 the matting, and thus a good deal of time is lost. 



In addition to the above hardy plants, the " grass '''' of 

 which may be directly used for tying, the leaves of the New 

 Zealand Flax, Phormium tenax, are very largely employed for 

 that purpose about Paris. This plant is grown everywhere in 

 greenhouses for room decoration. The long leaves being 

 produced in great abundance, the old leaves that are cut 

 away are preserved, 

 thus securing a strong 

 and excellent material 

 for tying. 



Material for Tying 

 Grafts and Buds. — 

 The dried stems of 

 Sparganium ramosum, 

 the Bur reed, have re- 

 placed woollen thread 

 for budding purposes in 

 France. In texture they 

 are peculiarly suited to 

 this purpose, being soft, 

 dense, elastic, and tough, 

 so as to enable the ope- 

 rator to secure an effec- 

 tive tie. The plant is 

 a common waterweed, 

 growing everywhere in Britain along the margins of ponds, 

 streams, and ditches, and about three feet high. It is 

 therefore a very cheap material, and may be cut and stored 

 in any quantity for budding and grafting purposes. 



I have seen it in extensive use in some of the largest 

 and best nurseries in France, and have no doubt that it 

 is an economical and real improvement. The stems of 

 the common BuUrush (Typha latifolia) are used for like 

 purposes, but not so extensively. By means of these, 

 many French grafters have been enabled to do away 



