2C 
GRAFTING. 
and lot the pollen you apply come from 
flowers which are desirable on account of 
colour; nor does it matter what flower it is, all 
that has to be done is to select that which is 
most desirable for form and texture as the 
seed-bearer, and that which is most conspicuous 
for colour or size. The Fuchsia Fulgens was 
the means of deteriorating the whole race of 
Fuchsias, and the benefit of crossing was 
hardly felt for years. The coarseness of all 
the novelties was proverbial, not because pains 
were taken to hybridize, but because Fulgens 
happened to be a free seeder, while the more 
elegant species were very shy seed-bearers, 
and florists merely sowed the seed from the 
former because it grew to their hands. 
Since this, people have been more careful, and 
the Fuchsia is rapidly improving. It is curious 
that the very seed-pods of flowers frequently 
change character; those in the habit of coming 
small often come large; and seeing these, we 
have a curious field for speculation in the 
adaptation of the principle to fruit. For in- 
stance, by impregnating fruit, for the purpose 
of observing whether there is any distinct 
alteration in the form or flavour of the produce 
the same year; not that it would indicate 
exactly the kind of fruit that the seed therein 
would produce, but that it might make a dif- 
ference in the fruit, as it often does in the seed- 
pod. We know there is a difference produced 
in the seedling fruit that comes afterwards from 
the seed of the fruit impregnated; but of 
hybridizing in the case of fruit we shall speak 
hereafter, as well as of some flowers which 
present, from their nature, some obstacles to 
the operation. 
GRAFTING. 
This operation is of high importance in 
practical gardening, for although hundreds of 
subjects can be raised from cuttings they can- 
not be rendered useful for years ; while the 
same cutting grafted on a vigorous stock might 
form a tree the second year. The whole 
strength of the stock may be thrown into the 
small piece grafted on it, whereas if grown as 
a cutting it could not grow at all until it struck 
root, and even then but slowly for a consider- 
able time. The advantages of grafting are 
not limited to this nor any other, but are many. 
First, it enables us to multiply any new or dis- 
tinct variety to a much greater extent than by 
any other means, because a piece with a single 
bud on it is sufficient for a graft. Secondly, 
it enables us, if desirable, to throw greater or 
lesser nourishment or vigour into the graft 
according to the stock we place it on. Thirdly, 
it enables us to change the variety of any tree, 
or shrub, or plant already established, instead 
of removing the old tree or shrub and placing 
a new one in its stead. The manner in which 
the operation is performed is adapted to the 
circumstances under which it is undertaken : 
for instance, if grafting is performed for the 
purpose of multiplying a variety, stocks of 
the proper kind are selected, for the purpose 
of conveniently removing when the graft has 
taken ; generally a year established in the 
ground if for fruit trees, or a year old in pots. 
The first is because fruit-trees and shrubs in 
the open ground ought not to be more than 
three years in a place undisturbed; and there- 
fore as one year after planting a stock is 
strong enough to be grafted, it allows of 
one year to let the graft grow, and a second to 
form a sort of head, or to grow into" stuff, as 
the gardeners call it. These stocks may be 
grafted two or three ways : rapidly growing 
subjects, intended for standards, are grafted 
as near the ground as possible ; some subjects 
are, however, grafted where they are to form 
the head: in either case the union of the graft 
or scion may be secured the same way, nor 
does it matter in what way the join is made. 
The most simple perhaps is, to cut the stock 
into the form of a wedge, and to split the 
scion, and cut the inside wood out so as to fit 
across it like a saddle ; this must be done with 
a sharp knife, so that the bark may not be 
damaged by bruising. In placing the graft 
on the stock, if the wood be both of a size, or 
nearly so, the fit may be perfect ; but if the 
graft, which is mostly the case, be smaller 
than the stock, it must be placed on one side, 
so that the bark of the graft or scion on that 
side shall exactly fit the bark of the stock, for 
if the scion does not reach half-way across the 
wedge of the stock, it will, nevertheless, soon 
cover it all, and even hide the join by its 
growth; whereas, if the scion were put on in 
the middle of the stock, so that the barks 
would not touch, no union could take place. 
When the stock and scion are made to fit pro- 
perly, they should be tied firmly together, 
and covered with proper grafting clay, thickly 
enough to keep out the air and prevent the 
wind from drying up the juices before they 
have time to unite. Another mode of joining 
these together, is to cut the top of the stock 
square, take a slice off the side, and then cut 
the scion or graft with a shoulder, and slope 
the inside so as to fit on the stock on the side 
where the slice was taken off. Here, too, the 
barks must be made to meet on one side, for 
it will unquestionably fail, unless the barks are 
made to meet all along one edge. Here the 
tying and covering with clay must be observed, 
the same as in the other case, and the diagrams 
show the way in which the cuts are made. Be- 
sides these modes of joining there are many 
others: one mode is to cut the end of the stock 
into a long slope, and the graft or scion into a 
