BUDDING 91 



bark on both lips so that the bud can be inserted. Push 

 down the bud so that the lower end touches the bottom 

 of the opened bark, and fold over the right and left lips 

 of bark to close it in. Should the upper part of the bud 

 be too long for the incision in the stock, the top may be 

 cut off to fit exactly in the position prepared for it in the 

 stock, leaving the bud about half-way in the opening of 

 the stock. 



Always take care to have a good length below the bud, 

 and that the bud is put in the right way up that is, the 

 leaf-stalk should point upwards. 



The same manner of budding is carried out in placing 

 buds on Paradise stocks, but in this case the bud is best 

 inserted 2 inches or less above the ground. 



As soon as the buds are inserted, tie them in tightly 

 with Raphia bast pieces about 15 inches long are best 

 starting below the bud with an equal length in each hand, 

 and taking care to cross the matting so that it does not 

 bury the bud. After the lapse of a month the ties may 

 be removed, for the stock grows quickly, and if left tied, 

 the matting cuts into the bark and causes a wound. 



Grafting. Grafting is performed in March or April, 

 after the dwarf stocks have had one or even two years' 

 growth in the quarters. First, the stock is headed back 

 to 15 inches. Then a clean side without knots is chosen, 

 and it is cut so as to peel off about 4 inches of the bark, 

 starting at the base and cutting upwards, to make a pattern 

 like an inverted hairpin, cutting into the wood about 

 of an inch at the upper end. Then a cross cut is made 

 about J of an inch deep in the stock, about i| inch from 

 the top, merely a notch, by pressing a sharp, stout knife 



