344 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[December, 
which are the result of the previous autumn’s 
flowering. The leaves die and disappear after 
the seeds have ripened, and nothing is seen of 
the plant until the flowering time again returns. 
The leaves and seed pods, as they appear in 
spring, are shown in the engraving behind the 
flowering plant. The Colcliicum is a n-ative of 
Europe, where it is called Meadow Saffron; in 
this country it is sometimes called Fall-Crocus 
and in some places it is known as “ Youths and 
Old Age.” It is multiplied by offsets from the 
corm, as the solid bulb is called, which are best 
removed as soon as the leaves wither. The plant 
may be grown from seed, but it requires several 
years to get large enough to flower. There are 
several florists’ varieties, among them a double¬ 
flowering one. The dried bulb aud the seeds 
are used in medicine and are kept by druggists. 
Fall of the Leaves.—Why they Fall. 
As we were walking through the grounds of 
a friend a few days ago, he pointed out what he 
considered a singular phenomenon: Of two 
cherry trees, standing near each other, one 
had lost most of its leaves, while those of the 
other were apparently as green and flourishing 
as ever. From the remark that they had been 
equally exposed to frost, it is evident that he, in 
common with others, thinks that the falling of 
the leaf is due to its being killed by frost. 
While it is true that some kinds hold their 
foliage until frost kills them, this is not the 
case with the majority of our hardy trees. As a 
general thing the leaf falls because it is ripe; it 
has fulfilled the objects of its existence, and in 
so doing obeys a natural law. In many leaves 
this fall is anticipated, and a distinct line of de¬ 
marcation between the leaf and stem is formed, 
while the tissues of the surface of the stem at 
the point of attachment are hardened, so that 
when the union is completely severed, the scar 
is already healed over, and there is no danger 
from evaporation from the many wounds thus 
left. The leaf falls in many seasons before 
frosts come, and the time is peculiar to each 
variety, just as is the period of the ripening of 
the fruit. In the case of the two cherry trees 
referred to above, they were of distinct sorts, the 
fruit of which matured at different times, and 
it is not strange that the leaves should perfect 
their work and fall off at different periods. 
To Strengthen Fruit Trees. 
Fruit and ornamental trees will sometimes 
so form their crotches as to split down under a 
heavy load of fruit or iu violent wind. This evil 
can be obviated by inarching or cross-grafting. 
Take a vigorous shoot, in spring, and insert one 
end under the bark of the main sjpm and the 
other under that of the opposite branch. Tie 
the branches firmly together, to prevent slip¬ 
ping apart in windy weather. Or, instead of 
taking a separate cion, a growing sprout may 
sometimes be found near the place needing to 
be strengthened, and by cutting off the top it 
may be inserted under the bark of the opposite 
limb. These braces may be put in every few 
years, as the tree needs them. Such “ Siamesed” 
trees are quite interesting objects to look at. 
Clouds never send down to ask the grass and 
plants how much watering they need; they 
rain for the relief of their own full bosoms. 
Better to distribute the fruits of one’s own in¬ 
dustry, than to reap the benefit of other people’s. 
Something more about Root Grafting. 
In the Agriculturist of last January the usual 
method of root grafting was described and illus¬ 
trated. Our correspondent “A. W. C.,” Bur¬ 
lington, Iowa, who propagates largely in this 
way, sends a detailed account of his method of 
grafting. As this differs in some points from 
the process common at the East, engravings 
are given to show his manner of working. In 
the first place, instead of making the wliip-graft, 
as shown in the January article, he practises a 
sort of side-grafting. Fig. 1, shows the root as 
prepared for the introduction of the graft. It 
Fig. 4. —CLAMP FOR HOLDING ROOTS. 
has a diagonal cut of 1 inch to inches in 
length. The grafts, fig. 2, are cut in the usual 
form, being about 2£ inches long, with a smooth 
wedge at the base, taking care to have a bud 
about £ the way down the wedge, as shown in 
the figure. Fig. 3, shows the graft as inserted 
into the root. Where much grafting is to be 
done, Mi 1 . C. finds it advantageous to use a 
clamp to hold the root, and to have several per¬ 
sons, each to perform a different part of the 
Q. 
§ 
o 
£ D C B 
Fig. 5.— POSITIONS AT THE TABLE, 
operation. A strong bench is made, 18 inches 
wide, 4 feet long, and of a higlit convenient to 
work at. The clamp, which is placed across 
the centre of this bench is shown in section in 
fig. 4. Iu the figure, A is the top of the bench; 
B is the movable jaw of the clamp; it is a piece 
of board 3 inches wide and hinged to an up¬ 
right piece, (7, which is 9 inches high. At D, is 
the fixed jaw of the clamp, 3 inches high; the 
upper edge of this as well as the opposing 
portion of the movable jaw are beveled to 
meet nicely, and are covered with India-rubber 
to prevent bruising the root. A spring, E, serves 
to open the clamp, and it is closed by means of 
the foot working a stirrup attached below to 
the cord, F, which passes through the top of 
the table. Fig. 5, is a plan of the top of the 
table with the clamp in the centre. The person 
who sits at A, prepares the grafts, and places 
them at B. The principal operator is seated iu 
front of the clamp with the roots at G. He takes 
a root in his left hand with the top toward him, 
places it in the jaws of the clamp and se¬ 
cures it by pressing upon the stirrup with his 
foot. Then with the knife in the right hand, a 
cut is made like that in fig. 1, l>y'pushing the 
knife with a sliding motion from him. The top 
is next cut off, and one of the prepared grafts 
is inserted, as in fig. 3. The root is now re¬ 
moved from the clamp and laid at the place 
marked D, on the table where another person 
ties the graft with coarse cotton yarn, by taking 
three or four turns around the juncture, and se¬ 
curing the end by throwing a loop over the 
cion. A knife is fixed in the table at E, for the 
convenience of cutting the string. The joints 
are afterward coated with grafting wax, melted 
sufficiently to apply with a brush. In this as in 
all other grafting, care must be taken that the 
bark of the cion and of the stock come in close 
contact. The grafted roots are to be preserved 
in damp sand or earth in the usual manner 
Wine Grapes and Wine. 
The influence of climate upon plants is not 
yet sufficiently appreciated. When it is known 
that our common hemp produces in India a 
powerfully intoxicating resin—or “ hasheesh”— 
which is never developed in temperate climates, 
it will not be surprising to learn that the same 
grape varies widely in its wine-making qualities 
in different localities, .and that the diverse 
opinions expressed respecting the wine-mak¬ 
ing value of particular, grapes are not due to 
the prejudices of the cultivators, but to real 
differences produced by climatic influences. 
In a wine grape we have to look for hardiness, 
good bearing, abundant juice, and above all a 
juice which contains sufficient grape sugar to 
produce wine. These are essentials, and after 
they are secured, our preferences as to flavor 
may be indulged. The Catawba, where it will 
perfect itself, is best known as a wine grape, 
but will doubtless be replaced by the Delaware 
in those places where the Catawba will not 
flourish. Here we have two grapes which are 
known to be wine producers, aud with which 
all other sorts will be compared. It is expected 
from the character of the Iona that it will stand 
well as a wine grape, but we have not heard of 
direct experiments.— Concord, in the Middle and 
Western States, is fast increasing in estimation as 
a wine producer. At Mr. Knox’s recent grape 
and wine exhibition, the Concord wine attracted 
great attention, it being of the character of a 
fine Bordeaux.- Alvey. This is a fruit much 
resembling the Clinton, vine a little tender, but 
bears well, and is highly prized in Missouri as a 
good wine grape.- Taylor, sometimes called 
“ Bullitt, ” is very often spoken of as a grape of 
great promise. It has promised for several 
years, but we never saw it perform to the ex¬ 
tent of producing a decent bunch.-— Oporto 
bears an abundance of small bunches; is said to 
make a good wine, but the berries are lacking 
in j uice.— Pranldin. This is a small black grape 
