PROPAGATION. 585 



ibuds will then take admirably. The same autumnal roses, when budded on the 

 -dog-rose, however, succeed best in July and August. In budding, the top 

 bud on the shoot should be commenced with, cutting from an eighth of an 

 inch below the eye to half an inch or three-quarters above it. 



1551. In removing buds, and especially from the stem, they should be cut 

 very close, and, if large, the wound should be covered with grafting-wax or 

 -clay. In planting the stock, it should be placed quite vertical, and the earth 

 •drawn round the roots to retain it in its upright position, while a stake is 

 driven into the ground beside it, to which it is to be attached firmly without 

 -injuring the bark. When planted in a line, stakes placed at intervals, with 

 rods connecting them, to which the stocks can be attached, would serve the 

 •double purpose of maintaining the straight line and supporting the roses. 



1552. In the month of March the stocks begin to shoot ; they now require 

 • daily attention; every useless or badly-placed bud should be suppressed, a 

 few only be encouraged, varying according to the vigour of the tree, but 

 never exceeding five in numbei', preserving those nearest the summit and 

 /Closest together. They should be opposite each other if only two, at a triangle 

 rif three, and two and two if four. Stir the ground at the roots to encou- 

 rage their growth, and keep it clear of insects by fumigation with tobacco- 

 ^smoke or washing with tobacco-water. 



1853. When the sap begins to rise, it is necessar}^ if branch-grafting is to 

 .be performed, to preserve the equilibrium of the tree by pinching off the lead- 

 ing buds of over- vigorous branches ; and a month or so before performing the 

 operation all spines likely to interfere with the budding should be cut off. 

 Where branch-grafting is to be practised, one bud should be placed upon a 



.branch, and that as near to the stem as possible. Where it is to be stem- 

 grafting, one should be on one side and one on the other, opposite to each 

 .other, so that one ligature shall serve for both. Where this cannot be accom- 

 .plished, the buds should be placed as nearly opposite to each other as 

 , possible. This operation should be performed quickly, and before the sun 

 has time to dry up the juices of the bud ; and when circumstances render 

 •delay imperative, the bud should be placed in the shade. 



1854. The operation of budding consists in transferring from one tree to 

 •another a small piece of the bark with an embryo bud, and inserting it 



beneath the bark of another. The only instrument necessaiy is the budding- 

 knife. The process consists in making a cross-cut just deep enough to cut 

 through the bark, and a longitudinal downward cut, making a letter T. 

 Then, with the thin handle of the knife, raise the inner edges of the bark 

 under the cross-cut : it is now ready to receive the bud. This is procured by 

 rfirst removing the greater part of the leaf from a bud, leaving only the foot- 

 stalk. Now make a longitudinal cut, about an inch in length, beginning 

 below the bud and terminating above it ; thus removing the bud with the bark 

 half an inch above and half an inch below the eye, with a thin slice of the 

 wood : this is the cushion or shield. Having lemoved the wood as clean as 

 possible, the lower point of the bud is now inserted in the open slip formed 



