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GRAFTING; ITS CONSEQUENCES AND EFFECTS. 
By MAXWELL T. MASTERS, M.D., F.R.S. 
[PLATE LXXL] 
NYONE who would write the history of grafting might 
readily fill a volume — a large one, and one as interesting 
as large. If he entered into technical details a great many 
volumes would be required. All that we have space to do here 
is to show that our forefathers were not ignorant of the 
practice, that the surgeons adopted it from the gardeners, that 
John Hunter made it the subject of experiment, and that in 
these days both surgeons and gardeners seem disposed to avail 
themselves yet more and more of the advantages it holds out. 
If we could induce any reader of a practical turn of mind, and 
a bent towards physiological enquiry, to turn his attention to 
the subject, we should be glad ; for although among gardeners 
especially great use is made of the grafting process, it is 
perfectly clear that a vast field remains yet for research — 
research, too, almost certain to yield profitable results alike 
to science and to practice. 
Though so largely practised by nurserymen, it is really doubt- 
ful if we know much more about the matter than did the 
Scriptores Rei Rusticse.” Columella knew how to bud roses ; 
he describes as many modes of grafting the vine as Beau 
Brummel had fashions for adjusting his necktie, while Virgil 
described the results with a neatness of expression that leaves 
only one regret — that the matter of his verse is less correct 
than the metre. It is the fashion to laugh at these old culti- 
vators, who could wield the pen with as great facility as the 
pruning-hook, because their ideas of what could be done by 
means of grafting do not coincide with our own ; but we should 
not be much surprised if in the future it turned out that the 
statements we have been accustomed to ridicule contain, 
nevertheless, much more of truth than is admitted at present. 
We do not venture to look forward to the time when apples 
shall grow on plane-trees, or ashen boughs enwreath themselves 
