THE JAPANESE DWARF TREES 



67 



branches in the upper part, and in not preserving the weaker ones near 

 the base. 



Gbafting. — Grafting plays a great part in the formation of pigmy 

 trees, as in the grafting of twcf different kinds together. When certain 

 of the branches die from the twisting and contortions they have been 

 subjected to, these are replaced by grafting. Often, indeed, all the 

 branches are cut off, and a certain number of grafts are inserted in 

 the trunk, in order that they may be trained in accordance with pre- 

 conceived ideas. 



But it is principally in training the Podocarpus that grafting is 

 largely resorted to. The grafts give this tree a somewhat flattened 



Fig. 18. — RETiNosroiu ; 19, Pine Trained to Resemble a Boat. 



pyramidal shape. With this object, plants of Podocarpus macrophylhis 

 the trunks of which are 2 or 3 inches in diameter, are repotted in small 

 vases, and cut down to a height of from 15 inches to 24 inches. On the 

 top of this bare trunk are placed five or six grafts, and for almost the 

 whole of its height grafts are inserted on the sides at convenient distances 

 apart, of a different species, and especially of those with variegated foliage. 

 The weak branches are fastened together in proportion to their length, 

 nipped and interlaced in the form of a more or less regular pyramid or of 

 a cocked hat. 



Maples are the most interesting subjects for grafting. Two maples of 

 different varieties are placed in the same vase and grafted together 

 about six inches below the surface of the soil. When these young trees 



