28 



THE NUT CULTURIST. 



pass completely under the bark of the stock, it must be 

 cut across, so as to allow that which remains with the 

 bud to fall into place and rest firmly on the wood of the 

 stock, as shown in Fig. 6. 



When the bud is in position and fitted to the stock, 

 as shown, wind the raffia, or other material used, around 

 the stock, both above and below, covering the entire 

 incision, leaving only the bud and part of leafstalk un- 

 covered. Of course experienced propagators have their 

 own individual systems and modes of operation, but the 

 above may be taken as a safe guide for the 

 amateur budder. The ligatures should be 

 loosened or removed as soon as the bud 

 has become firmly united with the stock, 

 which will usually be in ten or fifteen 

 days, if at all. When the buds have failed, 

 others may be inserted, provided, of course, 

 the stocks are in condition to admit of the 

 operation. Exceptions, however, may be 

 made where the budding has been done so 

 late in the season that the stock has ceased 

 to grow by the time the buds have taken, 

 and in such cases the ligatures may be left 

 on later and removed any time before 

 winter. In cold climates the snow, ice 

 and water are likely to get in around the bud if the 

 ligatures are not removed. But where the stocks are 

 vigorous and the buds set early, there will be danger 

 of the ligatures cutting into the bark as the stocks swell 

 or increase in diameter, unless they are loosened or en- 

 tirely removed. 



Under ordinary circumstances budded stocks should 

 not be headed back until the following spring, and then 

 should be cut off two or three inches above the inserted 

 bud ; and when this pushes into growth, all suckers and 

 sprouts below and above it should be rubbed off as they 



FIG. 6. BUD IN 

 POSITION. 



