Dec. 1896.] FOREIGN AND COLONIAL OFFICE REPORTS. 



31 



occupies itself with the exportation of plants and grafts. To 

 import plants into Italy from England requires the permission 

 of the Italian Ministry, which must be obtained through Her 

 Majesty's Ambassador at Rome. It is obvious, however, that 

 the transit must be as rapid as possible, and any delay at the 

 frontier must be scrupulously guarded against. The permit 

 must, therefore, be so timed as to arrive at the frontier as nearly 

 as possible when the plants do, for if it arrives before, it is 

 pigeon-holed and forgotten ; if after, the plants are kept waiting 

 and withering till it comes. In short the present state of affairs 

 gives much trouble, and is practically prohibitory of import. 



If it were possible for England to be included in the Conven- 

 tion before next spring, it may be confidently asserted that an 

 important market would be thrown open to English nursery 

 gardeners. 



There is a large market in Italy for new sorts of roses, bulbs, 

 and grafts generally, there being many amateurs who spare 

 neither labour nor money oyer their flower gardens, and many 

 others, both professionals and amateurs, who would, if they 

 could, introduce many plants, and especially many grafts, 

 because the latter are portable. As to grafts, it is the custom 

 here to use much stronger scions than are usually adopted in 

 England, and exporting gardeners should recollect this. For 

 their guidance the following details on grafting in South Italy 

 are given. 



Fruit trees are grafted in three ways : — ■ 



1. In winter the top is sawn off the parent stem, a slit is 

 made, and the graft or grafts inserted ; the whole is then firmly 

 tied round, and smeared with a mixture of Burgundy pitch, 

 tallow, wax, and ashes. 



2. In the spring, walnut, oranges, lemons, and mandarins are 

 grafted thus : — The top having been sawn off as before, the grafts 

 are inserted between the bark and the wood, tied firmly, and 

 smeared with pitch. 



3. A plan which is particularly successful in this climate is the 

 following : — The grafting having been completed, no pitch is used, 

 but a few of the leaves of the plant are laid on the grafts, the 

 whole being tied up hermetically with a cap of strong paper. 

 The paper being a non-conductor, the moisture of the leaves 

 being brought out by the heat of the sun, keeps the grafts damp f 

 and causes them to grow freely. 



Budding is only conducted in summer, a season when 

 export from England is more difficult, as the buds are apt to 

 wither on the journey. 



[Foreign Office Reports, Annual Series, No. 1789. Price 2d.} 



Cost of Farming in Oregon. 



The annual report on the trade of the Consular District of 

 Portland (Oregon) for the year 1895 contains the following 

 estimate of the cost of raising wheat, made by an experienced 

 farmer, in the Walla Walla Valley. The calculations are made 



