PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 
57 
PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 
This is by means so simple an operation, though not a very diflic ult 
matter; nevertheless, the pith in the centre of the wood is against it, 
as well as the discrepancy in general between the stock and the scion. 
The act of grafting is adopted for the same purpose as that of budding 
—to propagate particular varieties. It is not so safe nor so certain a 
mode as budding, but in the spring, there is no other means; and as in 
the purchase of new roses, there is generally a good deal of ripe wood 
that must be cut off, those who have stocks that are fit for grafting 
frequently adopt it. There are various modes of performing this 
operation; one or two Y^ays are applicable to the old wood of the 
stock; other modes are adapted to the last year’s branches. In the 
one case, a cleft is made in the stump of the stock, and the wood 
belonging to the new Rose to be inserted is cut. in an angular form to 
fit it. It is then bound in its place by bass matting, or some other tie, 
GO 
and the joins covered with grafting clay, or, which is more generally 
used for roses, grafting wax; a composition formed of beeswax and 
resin, in equal parts, and a .little tallow, to render it easily fusible 
at a low heat, because 4he real object of this wax is to melt at a 
heat which will not hurt the trees, but that will, on cooling, be suf¬ 
ficiently hard to keep in its place, and bear even the heat of the sun 
without running away. 
There are various modes of grafting the smaller branches of the 
stock; that is to say, the branches of the last year’s growth. One 
mode is, to « ,t the branch down to two inches in length, and then cut 
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