38 



ORANGE CULTUEE. 



plants it is impracticable, but for smaller plants, one of Tvhich at 

 least is in a box or pot, it is invaluable. The two plants, stock 

 and scion, being brought close together ; wounds are made upon 

 each part to be grafted exactly corresponding to each other, in 

 other words, j^lates of bark of equal size are removed, and the 

 new parts thus laid bare, are boimd together in close contact, 

 ■with a prepared wrapping which keeps out the air. In one 

 month ' not in tvro weeks as in budding * if the work has been 

 properly done union between the two ■will have taken place, and 

 then all that is necessarv is to cut loose the scion from its 

 original parent and bring down its foster mother to the level of 

 the " child of its adoption," when a new plant of the desired kind 

 ■ss ill be the result, without injury to that from which it was taken. 



By this method stems, roots and branches may be united, 

 and fruit or even flowers, be grafted upon leaves ; in short " graft- 

 ing bv approach," is grafting j:>a?' excellence, and affords scope for 

 curious experiments, such as we have just indicated ; experiments 

 that any skillful and ingenious gardener may vary and multiply 

 indefinitely. 



In some ca>es while the junction between scion and stock is 

 in progress, by this method, the plants are placed in moist hot- 

 houses (not beds) or under bell glasses, and if an accumulation 

 of too much moisture is carefully guarded against, this plan is a 

 good one, as the union takes place more surely and expeditiously. 

 This is the favorite method of grafting in cases where the plants 

 in question, either stock or scion, are too rare and valuable to risk 

 their destruction by ordinary methods in the event of failure to 

 knit. 



And next we come to " whip or " tongue " grafting, usually 

 practiced on small nursery trees. To perform this operation in 

 the most perfect manner, the top of the stock, and end of the 

 scion, should be of equal diameter, and therefore this kind of graft- 

 ing unlike the others, may be done on smaller stocks. Both scion 

 and stock must be cut obliquely as nearly at corresponding an- 

 gles as is jDOSsible to get them. The best way to secure the accu- 

 racv in this respect is first to cut ofi' the stock and then place the 

 extremity c^f the scion along side and a little below the oblique 



