-40 TREATISE 



the bnds begin to fwell ; I fay, in that cafe, I advife the operation: 

 to be deferred till the circulation of the fap is brifk, and the buds 

 of the flocks are beginning to break into leaves, when the grafts, 

 will immediately unite, which done earlier, cannot fo foon hap- 

 pen ; befides, at this advanced time in the fpring, there is at leaft 

 a greater probability that the weather afterwards will continue 

 milder. At the fame time it muft be obferved, that the weak 

 ilioots of tender trees will not admit of being fo long cut as the 

 more hardy. 



Let it ever be a ftanding rule, not to graft while it adlually 

 freezes or rains ; in either of which events, no reafonable fuccefs. 

 need be expected. 



It has lately become a frequent pra6lice, after barely tyeing the 

 grafts with bafs, and without the application of clay, to hoe up the 

 earth fo deep as to cover the flock ; and in this way, with hardy 

 trees, in a dry mild fpring, I have fucceeded to my wifhes : But 

 in this country we have been fo little acquainted with thefe tem- 

 perate feafons of late years, and I have fuffered fo much by my 

 too fanguine hopes of better weather, that till I fee fome altera- 

 tion in our climate, I fhall neither advife others, nor venture deep 

 myfelf, without taking every precaution, except from abfolute 

 neceffity, and where the hands needful to accomplifh the bufi- 

 nefs feafonably cannot be procured. I muft therefore recom- ^ 

 mend, that your grafts be tyed as firm as may be, without gal- 

 ling them, that the wounded part of the flock may be intirely 

 covered with the bafs, and that the clay may be well tempered, 

 and put on fmooth and clofe, fully covering the bafs, and top of 

 the flock, in fuch a manner as will befl expel the air, and prevent 

 all other injurious effec1:s to be apprehended from cold and wet. 



