1020 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



thickness, cut the stock at right angles, nearly half through. 

 Cut off the piece, keeping it equal at top and bottom ; cut the 

 lower end of the graft right across under an eye, and with a 

 knife prepare the graft to fit the stock. When the grafted 

 plants are tied up and clayed, set them at the back of the 

 vinery or peach-house, observing to keep them away from the 

 flues, as fire-heat is hurtful to them at first ; cover them with 

 hand-glasses, or, if a frame can be spared, it is still better. 

 Shade them every day, but take the mats off at night ; con- 

 tinue the shading till they have begun to grow, when they 

 may be exposed to the light. If any stock happens to be so 

 tall and thick that it cannot be placed under a hand-glass or 

 frame, put two or three grafts on it, set in any convenient 

 place in the house, and shade it with mats : it will succeed 

 perfectly in this way ; the grafts lose none of the old leaves ; 

 and, in five or six months, they will make three or four young 

 shoots, six or eight inches long ; these, with the leaves that 

 were on the grafts when put on, form a well-clothed little 

 plant." 



Orange-trees are also propagated by budding, either when 

 the stocks are young, or when they are even of considerable 

 size. Handsome plants may be formed by this method when 

 young stocks are used, but this cannot be the case when the 

 stocks have attained a large size ; and hence arises a great 

 defect in many of those that are annually imported into this 

 country from France, and particularly from Italy, &c., where 

 the stock operated on is often from one to three inches in di- 

 ameter at top, and, in consequence, seldom forms a union so 

 complete as to conceal the amputation of the stock. When 

 this species of propagation is had recourse to upon small 

 stocks, a deep frame will be found a suitable place, both that 

 the plants may be conveniently shaded, and attended to till 

 the bud be faiily established. From the time that the bud is 

 inserted, until it be completely taken, with the stock, air in a 

 moderate quantity should be given ; and if the operation be 

 performed during the hot months of summer, the frame should 

 be placed so as to have a northern exposure, or be partially 

 shaded, but not under the drip of trees. The period that 

 elapses from the time the bud is put on till the union takef 



