778 



Rural School Leaflet 



Fig. 3. a, Bud 



To prepare the tree or stock. — Choose the place for the bud. Make a 

 horizontal cut across the stem just through the bark. This cut should 

 be made with a rolling motion of the knife, and should be 

 crescent-shaped. Then, beginning in the middle of this 

 crescent-shaped cut, draw the knife straight down, making 

 a vertical cut, as in Fig. 2. To loosen the bark, twist the 

 knife side wise before drawing it out. The stock is now 

 ready for the bud. 



The bud stick. — Take the buds from bearing trees of 

 the variety you wish. From the ends of the branches 

 cut twigs that have grown this spring. These are called 

 bud sticks. The leaves are still on them. At the base of 

 each leaf and between the leaf and the branch you will 

 find a little bud. This is the bud you wish to insert into 

 the tree, which has been prepared as above. 



To cut the bud. — Cut the leaves off the bud stick about a quarter of an 

 inch above the bud, thus leaving the base of the leaf stalk as a handle 

 for the bud. Also cut off the upper part of the bud stick three or four 

 buds from the end. These end buds are soft and immature, and should 

 not be used. Cut each bud as you use it. Beginning with a sharp knife 

 below the bud, cut upwards just through the bark beneath the bud and 

 above it about half an inch. Be sure to cut through the bark, but be 

 careful not to get much wood beneath the bud. The illustration (Fig. i) 

 shows how to cut the leaves from the bud stick, and also how to cut the 

 bud. 



Inserting the bud. — Push the bud down into the incision made in the 

 stock, using the leaf stalk as a handle. Be sure that the entire bud is 

 shoved into the incision. If a portion of the bark should project above, 

 cut it off. Fig. 3. 



Tying. — The bud is now ready for tying. Raffia is the best material 

 to tie with, but if that is not available use ordinary 

 string. Wrap the wound entirely except where the bud 

 is. Begin below the bud to wind the raffia. Wrap it 

 carefully and snugly up to the bud, around the sides, and 

 above the bud beyond the top of the wound. Then tie 

 secvirely. Fig. 4. 



Later treatment. — Leave the raffia or string about two or 

 three weeks, when the bud will have " stuck." Then 

 remove the raffia. It is the common practice to draw 

 a sharp knife over- the strings on the side opposite 

 the bud, completely severing them and allowing them to fall off as 

 they will. The bud will remain dormant during the winter, and will 



Fig. 4 



