PROPAGATION OF TREES. 47 



then to be applied to the top of the incision in order 

 to part the rind from the wood, which is done by 

 gently lifting the top and running the end of the haft 

 downward on each side to the end of the incision. 

 The incision being made for the reception of the 

 bud, the next thing to be done is to prepare the 

 bud, by placing the scion in the left hand, between 

 the fore ringer and thumb, with the top end next to 

 the thumb. The knife must then be taken in the 

 right hand, and its heel placed half an inch below 

 the bud intended to be taken off ; it is then to be 

 carefully drawn upwards half an inch above the bud, 

 cutting it out with about half the wood and bark. 

 This being done, the part is to be placed between 

 the thumb and fore finger of the left hand, and the 

 rind gently pressed back with the edge of the knife, 

 when the wood is to be pinched between the thumb 

 and knife and divided from the rind with the bud, 

 which is to be inserted neatly in the incision by 

 pressing it gently down between the bark and the 

 wood of the tree, and bound with bass or other 

 string, in a neat manner, beginning first at the bottom 

 of the incision, and then continuing it to the top over 

 and above where the cut is made. 



ART. 5. Increase by Grafting. 



The object of grafting is to prolong any desired 

 fine quality of fruit by uniting it to a healthy, vigor- 

 ous kind, which should generally be such as is 

 grown from seed. In this manner fine kinds of the 

 apple, pear, cherry and plum are prolonged through 

 many generations, which could not be done by seed, 

 for seed from the very best kinds generally returns 



