354 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



For tying material prepared basswood bark is generally used, but 

 its place can be supplied by woolen yarn, or by strips of half-worn 

 muslin, half an inch or so in width. 



With everything in readiness the work of budding may be said 

 to consist of six different operations. 1. At a smooth place in the 

 stock (preferably two or three inches above the ground) an upright 

 incision an inch or over in length is made clear through the bark. 2. 

 Across the upper end of this incision a short horizontal one is made : 

 at right angles is the usual way, but it will be better to make it oblique, 

 as in this case the tying material cannot get into the upper incision 

 but must cross it, as it should. 3. The bark is then raised by press- 

 ing the thin piece of ivory (or the point of the knife) against the cut 

 edges with a kind of lifting movement, beginning at the upper end of 

 the incision and proceeding to the lower end one side at a time. In 

 this operation special care is needed to avoid touching the soft new 

 wood immediately under the bark. Touching this soft wood makes a 

 wound which the tree will proceed to heal. Bat it is this healing 

 process which fastens the bud to the stalk, and while it is expended in 

 healing the wound the bud perishes. 4.- A bud is now cut from the 

 prepared scion, the knife entering about half an inch below the foot- 

 stalk and coming out three-quarters or so above it, taking as thin a 

 slice of the wood with it as may be. This wood need not be removed 

 from the bud. 5. The bud is then taken by the piece of footstalk left 

 for the purpose, placed under the bark at the upper end of the incision 

 and pushed gently down to the lower end. If a portion of the bud 

 projects above the cross incision it is to be cut off, making a neat fit. 

 5. Tying it is now in order. This is to hold the bud in position and 

 to exclude air and moisture. It should be done at once, beginning at 

 the lower end of the incision and covering every part of it, but leaving 

 out the footstalk and the point of the bud. This completes the work. 



If the stalk is growing rapidly, the tying may cut into the wood 

 before the bud adheres properly. Should this occur the tie is to be 

 removed and immediately replaced but not so tight. In three weeks 

 from the first tying it may be removed permanently. 



In ten days or so after budding, it may be known that the bud 

 has taken, by the piece of footstalk dropping off on being touched. If 

 instead of this, it has dried and sticks fast, the operation has failed. 

 But if the bark still peels freely the budding may be repeated, select- 

 ing a new place on the stock. 



As a rule there must be cloee affinity between the stock and the 

 bud. Apple must be budded on apple, pear on pear, cherry on cherry, 

 peach on peach, etc. But many of the plums do well on peach; and 



