Grafting

(graft'ing.) [From A.S. græft, cut or hewn.] (Hort.) The proce of inserting a branch of one tree into the stock of another, so that it may receive nourishment from it, while at the same time it produces a new tree like the old one whence the graft was taken. The use of grafting is to propagate any rare kinds of fruits. All good fruits have been obtained accidentally from seeds. It is quite uncertain whether or not the seeds of these will produce fruit worthy of cultivation; but when shoots are taken from such trees as bear good fruit, no degeneration is to be apprehended. Generally speaking, all the species of one genus may be grafted on one another; but there are exceptions; thus, the apple cannot be usefully grafted on the pear. Species belonging to different natural orders can scarcely ever be grafted on each other. Hence, the nearer in affinity the scion and the stock, the better. [s. 418]