THE ALMOND. 27 



ripe or wholly dormant when placed in direct contact 

 with the living tissues and the juices of the stock, 

 they will absorb moisture and nutriment, and be as 

 likely to unite and live as under opposite conditions. 



In performing the operation of budding, the follow- 

 ing rules may be observed : Take the twig from which 

 the buds are to be removed, in the left hand, with the 

 small end pointing under the left arnij insert the knife- 

 blade half an inch, or a little more, below the bud, cut- 

 ting through the bark and a little into the wood ; pass 

 the knife under the bud, and bring it out 

 about the same distance above it, taking off 

 the bud with the bark, and a thin slice of 

 wood attached, as at c, Fig. 4. Then, if 

 using the Yankee budding knife, or one of 

 similar form, let the forefinger clasp the 

 lower part of the blade, make the horizontal 

 incision in the stock first, and from this an 

 incision downward about an inch long, 

 or it may be twice this length without doing 

 any harm, being careful not to cut too 

 deep. Lift up the edge of the bark by pass- 

 ing the back of the end of the blade (with- 

 out removing it) up to the horizontal inci- FIG. 5. INCI- 

 sion. Lift the bark on the other side in the SIGN FOR BUD. 

 same manner, the two incisions making a wound in the 

 stock resembling the letter T, as shown in Fig. 5. If 

 other forms of budding knives are used, the thin end of 

 the ivory handle is thrust under the bark, raising it 

 sufficiently to admit the bud. The budder holds the 

 bud between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand 

 while making the incision in the stock ; and as the knife 

 leaves it he places the lower point of the bark attached 

 to the bud under the bark of the stock before this falls 

 back into place, and thrusts it down into position. If 

 the upper end of the bark attached to the bud does not 



