THE GARDEN,

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 169, 11 September 1886, Page 1

THE GARDEN,

-< r» n-» > > >• ' ' , Grafting (continuoa). Wired grafting is an entirely new method of grafting, 1 ¥ It Avoids «11 Bpl»ting r 'of stock" or rupturing of bark* and baa proved very successful, and far ahead of the old style of clpftjgrafting. The scions are cut equaiely' off and holes made in the centre,' and a piece of No 18 wire, 1 , f£ inches long/ forced into each half an inch. One lor mpre holqs are' then made in the end of the stock in auch a position that when the wires projecting from the eciona are forced into them the cambium layers of scion and stock are both brought firmly into contact, and the parts are' then well waxed. Side grafting is successfully used whenever it is desirable to produce limbs on the sides of a tree, and is found to answer admirably where a tree from some cause has become one-sided. A cross is cut in the bark on the Bide of the tree, and a downward slit is made the same as if for buddiDg. The scion is cut with a long slant. This is inserted in the slit made in the bark, and pushed firmly down, when the whole is tied and nicely waxed. This form is almost a variation of budding performed in the spring instead of the autumn. When this method is adopted it will perhaps be necessary to tie or train outwards' the young shoots for some time after they start growing. Saddle grafting is used where the stock ife from the size of the scions to two or three times as large. The upper end of the stock is whittled to a wedge. The scion is split and the wood is cut outwards on each side to a point. It is then pushed firmly down upon the wedge add secured by tying and waxing, or with waxed cloth. This method is considerably used in the grafting of conifers. ' * Crown-grafting is a little the best style of grafting when we wish to do an extra fine job; have the wound heal over in the least time, and make the least scar. In this the stock is cut with a slant, the bark is slit and raised at both the apex behind, and bare of the slant in the front. The scion is split in the middle, and a distance equal to the slant on the stock is added to the distance it is desired to have it extend under the bark below the slant. One half is merely cut wedge shaped at the point, the other is cut off an inch aad a - half long, and is whittled from tho inside to a point. It ia then applied to th« stock, the shorter end being inserted beneath the bark at the apex, and the longer end at the base slit, and both are pressed home till the scion sets firmly to the stock, when it is bound with wax* cloth or tied and clayed. Of course, in all those forms of grafting in which the scion, or any part of it, is to be inserted and slipped down beneath the bark, the operation must be performed in the spi ing, just after the sap has begun to rise. The above forms of grafting are suited for large trees and large limbs. For grafting small stocks, splice or whipgrafting is the mode generally selected, as the Bcions and stock are generally about the same size. Here both are cut with the same length of slant, the stock with an upward slant ; the knife if" theD reversed ; a cut ia made oarallel with the grain. ; a similar slant on the stock with a similar reverse cut. These are then caused to interlock with each other, and are squeezed well together, tied, waxed, and clayed. Recollect that the success of all methods of grafting rests on the proper placing of the scion on to the stock. They must be placed in such a position that the cambium layers of the two are in contact, so that the sap as it rises in the stock may flow freely into the scion. If such is the caso, they will soon unite, and the scion at once becomes part and parcel of the tree.

Life of Seeds. The following are some of the results of the experiments made the last year at the New York Agricultual Experiment Station to determine the influence of age on the germinating property of seed?. The seeds were obtained from reputable seedsmen. Amongst those which retained their germinating power longest,, or for several years, were tomato, broccoli, beet, pea,' cucumber, muakmellon, egg-plant, lettuce, turnip and yellow locust. About half of the locust seeds germinated at ten years and one-eighth at twenty- seven years. Turnip^ eeed scarcely deteriorated in seven or eight years. and* half grew at twelve years. Tomatoes showed a slight change at fourteen years, , and. very little at different leaser periods. Lettuce was good at four or five years. Muskmellon seed lost nothing at ten, years ancl cucumber endured nearly as well. At thirteen years half of the cucumber seed grew and at nineteen years, 7, per .cent. liJeets began to lose slightly, at six years,, and from a tenth to a third grew at" fourteen years. Among the seeds which began!; to deteriorate largely 4 in two or three years were asparagus, thyme, endive, egg-plant, corn, cabbage, parrot,, cauliflower, cplery, parsnip, squash, and some others^ As,. a general rule seeds of "the cabbage, tribe appear to. be , intermedia! c between the longest keepers , and, those swhjch quickly deteriorate, and. > broccoli and , Uale retain their quality some year/j.^j -/,,;,,-

Lemons Preserved Eight ' Mottths, ' We clip, the following, from thejSanford, Fla., V Journal M : We haVe in,our office a lemon, of common variety,- that Was clipped from the tree that bore it,. >vi£h a number of other?, in fuly la?t f /Jt>as grown byJ.if. Prince on ,Pr. Gordon's place qn Silyer Lake,, a»d, with a quantity of otherf, ,peVhapa a half-bushel, waß,b ( ur|ed<in t the grove when, clipped, a8 ( , an .experiment;. Jlklr I Prince ftad, forgotten the cjircumetance, until a ievr daye ajjo wH^le; ploughing the frpve, geveral.of the Jempne .yptu^ed * y *^ft p\°*&\ *'$mWi« *h© faqt.^t -he^pao pl^dfld^ithem, f Ma i ( priiw , and, gratification flipon finding , all pf th^m, in, a jHjate],of .pßrfecfc, prea^ryation can woll be, imagined, Theee ,lecQODi,were

buried in ordinary soi} and not under cover and, therefore,, Jiave been subjected to, the vicissitudes of weather, H heat, " , oold • and moistiure.r , Query, ,;, If , Jemons* .will keep under aucb cifcucpetances, why should not .oranges ? And if .oranges can be keptjthus, 1 is not the question pt the protraction of pur mVketing period, sotted I s T t xx xfa ,^he,leBBon taupjht by Mr Prince's .experittjenMe a r^i a lesson at all sit is at least , a, suggestion which producers should, regar^ of sufficient significance to prompt fi^rther experiment, , r , , Hortusp' in Auckland " Star."