42 



PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



But it is really immaterial what form of knife is used, 

 provided it has a keen edge, and is dexterously handled. 



GRAFTING DECIDUOUS TREES. 



Grafting is governed by the same physiological princi- 

 ples as budding;, and there must exist an affinity be- 

 tween stock and cion, if not, a permanent union is im- 

 possible. The principal difference between budding and 

 grafting, is, that in the latter a larger section of the 

 plant to be propagated is used, and it can be performed 

 upon a greater variety of plants while they are in a 

 dormant condition. The art of grafting is one of the 

 most ancient methods known of multiplying individual 

 species and varieties of plants. 



The implements used for grafting are : a small saw 

 for cutting off the heads of large stocks or branches of 

 the trees, a good strong knife with thick back to make 

 clefts in the stock ; a small knife to prepare the cions 

 with ; a wedge, grafting chisel, and a small mallet. 

 There are also many other implements used for different 

 modes of grafting, but they are really not essential, 

 except when the operator desires to cut a cion or cleft of 

 some peculiar form. In addition to the implements, 

 bass strings, such as are used in budding, for tying in 

 the grafts, or grafting- wax, to cover the wounds, and 

 protect them from air and water are necessary. 



The primitive compositition used for covering wounds 

 and cuts made in grafting, v>^as clay and cow manure. 

 Any good kind of clay was taken, and two parts of this 

 was mixed with one part of cow manure, all well beaten 

 together in order to make it as tough as possible. Some- 

 times a little finely chopped grass was added to give it 

 toughness. This composition was in common use more 

 than two thousand years ago, and is still used by gar- 

 deners in grafting certain kinds of plants that have a 



