NOTES ON PLUM CULTURE. 
I I 
mence early enough so that the finish need not be hurried 
by the weather conditions. 
Scions must not only be dormant, but must be other¬ 
wise in good condition, neither wilted from drying, nor 
water soaked from being kept too wet. Sometimes it is con¬ 
venient to take them from the trees as wanted; more fre¬ 
quently they will be cut late in the fall, or come from a dis¬ 
tance, and the question of how to keep them will present 
itself. 
They may be kept in an outside cellar or pit, packed in 
dry leaves, or in moss that is but slightlv damp. The aim 
should be simply to provide conditions that will prevent the 
loss of moisture, without affording opportunity for the ab¬ 
sorption of an excess. 
The particular method of grafting to be used is much a 
matter of taste. Several are available, among which the 
four following are named in the order of the writers prefer¬ 
ence: Veneer, Side, Whip and Cleft. 
The side graft is probably in more general use than any 
of the others, but after several years experience with all of 
them we are inclined to favor the veneer method as giving 
the most perfect union. 
It is not our purpose to here discuss the principles of 
grafting, but may remark that in all grafting no union takes- 
place between cut surfaces of the wood. It is only through 
the adjustment of the cambium of the scion to that of the 
stock that union is secured, and here, it is not a union be¬ 
tween cells existing at the time the grafting is done, but 
through new cells formed in extension of the cambium, 
which is the only channel of communication between leaves 
and roots. This being true it seems reasonable that the less 
the area of cut wood surfaces the better. The minimum of 
cut wood is secured by the veneer graft, which only exposes 
the wood in the oblique transverse cuts at the apex of the 
stock and the base of the scion. The one valid objection 
that may be urged against the veneer graft is that the scion 
is easily displaced. It is easily displaced if carelessly tied,, 
but with reasonable care no trouble need be feared. 
Whatever the method used the union should be thor¬ 
oughly covered with some protective wax. A liquid wax to 
be applied with a brush is most convenient, and of several 
preparations one known as “Alcoholic Plastic” answers the 
purpose admirably. It is made as follows: One pound of 
Resin, and one ounce of tallow melted together; remove 
from the fire, and after cooling slightly, but while still liquid, 
add eight fluid ounces of alcohol and stir thoroughly. 1 his 
