HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 191 
chemical processes taking place within the plant, being in a nascent state, 
may readily combine with a portion of the sulphur, and thus form sulphur- 
ous acid, and still more in the application of a solution of sulphuret of 
potash with the addition of an acid, where the sulphur is in the act of being 
eliminated, and can combine at once, under the most favorable circum- 
stances, with the nascent oxygen. 
It would be easy for a good chemist to ascertain precisely whether sul- 
phurous acid is really formed under such circumstances, or whether some 
other combination of sulphur and oxygen is given out, and it would be doing 
good service to the horticulturist to ascertain the point. When sulphur is 
used to combat disease in the human frame, especially when applied inwardly, 
more than one combination takes place, and a large portion of the substance, 
when taken in a crude state, passes away unaltered. In its application to 
the purposes of cultivation, it is likewise a small portion only, in all pro- 
bability which is effectual ; and if the action could be precisely ascertained, 
the results might be of great importance, in an economical point of view, 
where it is used largely, as in Hop gardens. M. J. B. — G-ard. Chronicle. 
PACKING BUDS AND GRAFTS. 
We have on former occasions given directions on this subject, but have 
observed among the packages of grafts occasionally received, indications that 
the best modes are not well understood, even by some intelligent cultivators 
of fine fruit, by whom errors are often committed. 
Since the reduction of postage, the transmission of buds and grafts by 
mail, has become a great convenience to fruit raisers and pomologists, and 
the only difficulty is to put them up so that they shall carry long distances 
with safety. The essential requisites, are to secure the moisture they con- 
tain from evaporation, and to prevent bruising. 
To prevent evaporation, it was formerly the custom to encase them in 
muslin covered with a coating of grafting wax ; but this was found incon- 
venient to apply and troublesome in removal. The writer therefore intro- 
duced an improvement some fifteen years since, which has since been gen- 
erally adopted throughout the country. This is to wrap the grafts in oil- 
silk, selecting a piece large enough to cover them and to bend it up over the 
ends, so as to bring it down air-tigJit on every part, by winding a fine thread 
around it at very short intervals from end to end. This forms a complete 
air-tight case, through which the moisture from the graft or buds cannot es- 
cape ; and if well put up, grafts may be sent in this way across the Atlanti 
