348 



SYLVA AMERICANA, 



about an inch and a half long (Plate 107 a); then 

 directly with the thumb and finger, or point of the 

 knife, slip off the woody part remaining to the bud ; 

 which done, observe whether the eye or gem of the 

 bud remains perfect ; if not, and a little hole ap- 

 pears in that part it is improper, or as foresters ex- 

 press it, the bud has lost its root, and another must 

 be prepared. This done, placing the back part of 

 the bud or shield between your lips, expeditiously 

 plate cvn. with the flat haft of the knife separate the bark of 

 the stock on each side of the perpendicular cut clear to the wood 

 (c), for the admission of the bud, which directly slip down, close 

 between the wood and bark, to the bottom of the split (c7). The 

 next operation is to cut off the top part of the shield (b) even 

 with the horizontal first made cut, in order to let it completely 

 into its place, and to join exactly the upper edge of the shield 

 with the transverse cut, that the descending sap may immediately 

 enter the bark of the shield, and protrude granulated matter be- 

 tween it and the wood, so as to effect a living union. The parts 

 are now to be immediately bound round with a ligament of bass, 

 or some substitute, (e), previously soaked in water, to render it 

 pliable and tough, beginning a little below the bottom of the per- 

 pendicular slit, proceeding upward closely round every part, except 

 just over the eye of the bud, and continue it a little above the 

 horizontal cut, not too tight, but just sufficient to keep the whole 

 close, and exclude the air, sun and wet. 



Modes of transplanting. Much difference of opinion prevails 

 on the comparative merits of the different methods of planting 

 from time ; to time introduced, and more or less practised. 

 Trenching is held by some to be essential to success, without 

 considering that there are situations and soils where timber of the 

 most valuable quality may be produced that cannot be dug or 

 trenched. Others again infer, that to insert seedling plants into 

 the soil in its natural state is all that is required for the production 

 of timber and underwood possessing every requisite value. 



These opinions are too exclusive ; they have led to baneful ef- 

 fects, and still are the cause why many extensive tracts of land 



