cessary to give it plenty of good rotten manure, to make them throw up standards quick.

rows.

The distance for quartering out the stocks for grafting should be two feet six inches row from row, and about ten inches apart in the Some will give two feet ten inches, or three feet row from row; but that I think unnecessary, as two feet six inches is quite sufficient to get between them for all purposes, and quite room enough for them to grow so long as they ought to remain in the nursery.

When you plant your stocks you should prune the roots, cutting the strong roots shorter, and take away as many of the superfluous fibres as you can; trim up the stock clean at the bottom, but be sure to leave buds to break from the top, then cut off the top, leaving the stock long enough to be about sixteen or eighteen inches out of the ground when planted; the stocks should remain two years, and then they will be in good order for grafting, during which time they will require very little care or trouble, more than digging between and keeping them clean from weeds.

GRAFTING.

Par. 3.—We next come to grafting, which is one of the most important branches in propagation, particularly of the apple, it being so subject to the canker, and so apt to be injured where the graft is put on the stock, which, if it once takes place, is almost sure to destroy the

tree.

Grafting appears to those who may see others performing it, very easy, like looking at another who may write a fine hand, but it requires much practice to become a clean grafter, as well as it does to write a clean hand; at the same time I shall endeavour so fully to explain it, that it may be of considerable advantage to the pupil.

There are various ways to graft, but the best and usual method for stocks, planted as before described, is what is commonly called whipgrafting, for which we must first make the necessary preparation. In the first place, some strong loam, such as will stick well together, should be dug and laid in a heap, if in the dry

the better; for if you can run it through a sieve you will free it from all stones or lumps, which will make it mix the better.

In the next place there must be provided a sufficient quantity of horse-dung (I mean the clean droppings from the horse, quite clear from straw, for it is the best thing to keep the clay from cracking,) to allow about one-fourth to three fourths of loam; this must be mixed well together, to make it smooth and fine enough for plastering, and sufficiently moist to be able to mix it about easy in the hands; but not too moist, otherwise it would slip off the stock, but that would soon be found out by those who are using it.

The next thing to prepare is some bass or matting for tying on the grafts. For stocks of the age and size before-mentioned, it should be cut about one foot and a half long, and tied in small bundles ready for the man who is to tie the grafts.

Now having all ready, we must watch our season for grafting: where there is a great quantity to do, it is necessary to begin as early

as the season will admit; and as apples are not so early as cherries, plums, or pears, (where you have these to graft) your apples must wait till they are done; but if you can begin your apples about the middle of March, and finish. by the second week in April, it is very rare that it is too late for them, for I have grafted apples with success in the last week in April, when the stocks have been out in full leaf; but this is a dangerous practice, for if the weather sets in very dry, it will so dry up the juices of the stocks that many cannot be expected to grow, and what do will be very weak, and scarcely ever make handsome standards.

In the next place must be got ready the scions or cuttings, which should be of one year's growth, and as firm and strong as you can get them, so that they are not too large for the stocks; for although weak cuttings will grow, they will not make near the growth as the strong cuttings, neither will they bear a dry harsh spring so well. Now we proceed to grafting. In the first place you cut down your stocks within four or five inches from the

ground, which in large nurseries is done by a man before the grafter. After the grafter a man to tie the grafts; then follow two boys, the one to what is commonly called dabb, or put the clay on the graft, and the other to close the clay in this way you may get through much grafting, if the grafter be quick. The grafter should have the scions cut in lengths about six inches long, and carry them in his apron; then taking out one at a time, he should hold it firm in his left hand, then take a slice off the end of the scion, rather more than an inch long, and be careful not to let your knife cut too deep to get into the pith, till it gets near the end of the slice ;-this is one reason why I recommend so short a slice, for in taking a long slice you are apt to cut along the pith, which is very injurious; although it may not signify so much with apples, it is a bad practice to follow, for in grafting cherries you will scarcely ever have a crop, or what is commonly called a good hit. Having made your slice in the manner described, you then cut a tongue or slit, which should be about a quarter of an