STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 261 



the stocks are in a thrifty condition. The only instrument necessary 

 in the operation is a common two bladed pocket knife. The large 

 blade is for removing any branches that are in the way of inserting 

 the bud. The smaller for preparing the bud, making the incision 

 and lifting the bark on the stock. To prepare the bud, remove the 

 leaves from the stock to be budded from, leaving about half of the 

 stem to handle the bud by ; take the shoot in one hand and the 

 knife in the other ; the edge of the knife is placed on the shoot 

 half an inch above the bud to be removed ; the thumb of the knife 

 hand rests on the shoot below the bud, a drawing cut is then made 

 parallel with the shoot, removing the bud and the bark to which 

 it is attach«^d half an inch above and three quarters below it. The 

 cut is just deep enough so that a small portion of the wood is taken 

 oft with it, which may be allowed to remain, or be taken out if it 

 parts freely. Now a smooth place on the stock is chosen where 

 two incisi jns are made to the depth of the bark, one across the top 

 of the other so as to form a T ; the bark on the two edges of the 

 perpendicular cut is raised with the point of the knife and the bud 

 is inserted between them and kept in its place by winding a string 

 tightly around ; best matting, woolen yarn or cotton thread will 

 answer for tying. The tying may be removed in about ten days. 

 Grafting is the insertion of a scion of one species or variety on 

 the stem or branch of another. The best scions are slioots of the 

 previous year's growth. Stocks may be of any age from a yearling 

 seedling to a tree of many years, but of whatever age, should be 

 sound and healthy. The best methods and most easily practised 

 are whip grafting and cleft grafting. In whip grafting the stock 

 ought to be not more two years old. The grafter removes the top, 

 making a smooth even cut about one inch long from the bottom 

 upwards, and in the center of this cut he makes a slit or tongue 

 downwards. Tiie scion, which should contain two or three buds, 

 is cut on the lower end with a sloping cut downwards and similar, 

 in all respects, to that made on the stock ; a slit or tongue is made 

 in it upwards, corresponding with that on the stock, and they are 

 neatly fitted together, the tongue of each within the other, and the 

 inner bark of both brought in perfect contact, at least on one side; 

 it is then to be wrapped with a narrow strip of waxed cloth or 

 paper, covering the parts united. Cleft grafting is practised on 

 trees or branches too large for whip grafting. In this case the 

 scion is cut precisely in the form of a wedge. The part for insertion 

 should be about one inch or one inch and a half long, with a bud 

 at the shoulder where it is to rest on the stock ; the outer edge of 



