Wc have already alluded to the difficulty of ftriking cuttings of this tree. This, however, is not abfolute.
It is only difficult to faille them in the wrong way. As in everything elfe, fo here, there is a right and
a wrong way of doing it. In the " Tranfadtions of the Edinburgh Botanical Society," vol. v. p. 187, a
fuccefsful plan is recorded, in which the very young pea-green (hoots torn off the older wood were found
to ftrike readily ; but, on the other hand, there are cultivators who ftrike them invariably in Auguft or September,
when they are fomewhat riper. The tree is late in putting out its young Ihoots, fo that Auguft
is a good deal earlier than the period generally adopted for making cuttings of other kinds of plants. We
apprehend that it is from mod people taking their cuttings from too old wood that it has been found fo
difficult to ftrike them When the cuttings are fuccefsfully grown, they acquire, in a fair proportion of
indances, a good form by the time they reach 4 or j feet in height, and in feme few cafes can fcarcely be
diftinguilhed from feedlings.*
It remains to fay a word or two upon grafts of this tree, which are generally worked upon the common
Silver Fir; but P.mbilis, when grafted in the manner recommended in moil works on gardening,
is apt to overgrow the dock and the tree at the graft, and fome other cheap flock is wanted of more
equal growth with the fcion. The ufual mode of grafting is, to cut an inch or two off the top of the leading
flroot of the flock, and to remove the leaves for about three inches further down, with the exception of a
pair or fo at the very top to continue to draw nourilhment to the extremity of the flock until the fcion
becomes fully attached. The fhoot is then fplit down for a couple of inches, and the fcion, after its
lower leaves are removed, is pared on each fide into a narrow wedge, which is infected
in the Hit to its full depth in the fame manner as in cleft-grafting. The graft is then
tied and clayed, or coated with grafting-wax, or the new compofition Lhomme Lefart
The plan we adopt is, we think, better. It is to remove the foil for a little depth
round the ftock, and to place the graft low down, fo that when the foil is replaced
the end of the graft is below the furface, and forms a root for itfelf. The accompanying
woodcut [fig. 22] (hews the procefs.
Large plants are to be found in nurferies; but in moft cafes they have been fo
much cut in to furnilh cuttings and grafts that the fymmetry of fhape, which is one
1 " of the chief beauties of this tree, is much impaired.
Fine fpecimens are to he feen at Mr Walker's, of Calderftone, near Liverpool; at Tinedon Hall,
Northamptonlhire; at Caftle Martyr, near Cork, the feat of the Earl of Shannon, where a tree planted
fubfequently to 1845 is now 25 feet in height and 3 feet 8 inches in circumference; at Riccarton
(Sir William Gibfon-Craig), near Edinburgh ; at Durris Houfe (A. W. Maflier, Efq.), near Aberdeen ;
Smeaton Houfe (Sir T. B. Hepburn), Mid-Lothian ; at Caftle Kennedy (the Earl of Stair). Wigtownllure;
and at Wall Tower (Sir Hew Dalrymplc), near North Berwick. But tile fined and oldcft trees
in this country are thofe at Chatfworth and Elvafton, near Derby (the latter planted by the late Earl
of Harrington), which for fome years pad have fupplied a confiderable quantity of feeds. The fpecimen
figured in the coloured plate is from Lady Grenville's, at Dropmore.
Commercial Statiftics—The price of young plants, for a few years after introdufiion, varied from five
to twenty guineas, according to fize and growth. In 1850, for fmall grafted plants, 7s. 6d.; da, 6 to 9
inches high, 15s. In i860, for 1 year feedlings, 2S. each; 2 years, 3s; for plants 9 inches high, 10s. 6d.;
for grafted plants, 3 to 4 feet, 31s. 6d. The feed has been fold for as much as £ s per ounce, and dill
commands a high price
1 cuttings in tills country (grafts, of courfc, fpeaking for thet
- vis., a tree above so feet in height is probably a fecdling
under 2 feet, may probably be a fecdling.
ipirical guide, at this d
tical refult of the differ
* (1S63), to diltinguifh fecdling tree
It inioorcstions of feeds, &c., has bee: