26 ON BUDDING, OR INOCULATING. 



all is ready, make a cut in the bark of the stock transversely, 

 and from the middle of this cut make another downward, 

 at least two inches in length, so that the two cuts may be in 

 the form of a T ; then from one of your sprigs proceed with 

 expedition to take off a bud ; this is effected as follows : 

 Insert the knife a little more than half an inch below the 

 bud or eye, force it into the wood, drawing it under the bud, 

 and cut the piece off across the shoot ; then immediately let 

 that part of the wood which was cut off with the bud be 

 separated from it, which may be readily done with the knife, 

 by placing the point of it between the bark and wood at one 

 end, and, holding the bark in one hand, pull off the woody 

 part with the other, which will readily come from the bark, 

 if the tree from which it was taken be in a vigorous con- 

 dition. Examine the bark, so as to be satisfied that the 

 bud remains perfect ; if there is no hole in it, let it be im- 

 mediately inserted into the stock, which is done by raising 

 with the handle of your knife the bark of the stock downward 

 on each side from the cross cut, and thrusting the bud in be- 

 tween the bark and the wood, applying it as close as possi 

 ble. As soon as the bud is put into its place, bind it securely 

 with bass, beginning a little below the cut, and proceeding 

 upward, till you are above the cross cut, taking care to miss 

 the eye of the bud, just so that it may be seen through the 

 bandage of the bass. About a week or ten days after the 

 stocks have been budded, they should be examined, when 

 such as have united will appear fresh and full, and those that 

 have not taken will appear decayed ; in the former case the 

 bandage may be left off, and in the latter case, the stock 

 may be budded in another place, provided the first operation 

 was done in the month of July or early in August, as these are 

 the two most preferable months for budding fruit trees in 

 general. Budding is, however, often attended with success, 

 if done early in September. 



SCALLOP BUDDING is performed by cutting fiom a small 

 stock a thin narrow scallop of wood, about an inch in length, 



