10 



bud is slipped into the gap ; on releasing the stock the bud is nicely held in 

 its proper position. Healthy and vigorous growing stocks readily allow of 

 such bending. This method is largely followed by nurserymen. If the 

 bud is inserted on the north side of the stock it gets natural protection from 

 the sun. The operation should be done on a clear day when no rain is 

 expected After insertion the bud is firmly tied with sopat, i.e., the inner 

 part of the banana leaf -sheath. 



In about three weeks the bud begins to grow into a branch ; the stock 

 is then cut off about six inches above the site of the bud, and the whole 

 stock is cut off just above the bud when the branch from the bud is about 

 six inches long. After this, care must be taken to rub off all buds that 

 show any tendency to develop from the stock below the site of the bud. 

 At no f ature period must any part of the tree produce branches except the 

 scion. 



Now referring to the different kinds of stock it may be mentioned here 

 that the bark of the Maha lung stick is somewhat brittle and less muci- 

 laginous, and the sap flowing condition lasts only for a short time. The 

 Refhmi Oratxge is not at all suited as a stock, for the bark closely adheres 

 to the wood below, and is not moist enough inside. This and the Nagpnr 

 Orange stock when cut off above the, bad often turn blank at the out and thus 

 decay. With the pomelo as a sto?k the graat difficulty is that it does not 

 stand well the trimming of its tap root and hence it is not well suited as a 

 stock -plant which must stand repeated transplanting The Mosambi stock 

 as mentioned above is very sensitive to'ftbods, for the part of the bark that 

 remains under water decays in a ver^'short time. The Jamburi stock is free 

 from all these faults. 



Soon after the heading in of the stock near the scion the budded plants 

 should be transplanted to another bed which is properly worked by deep 

 digging and enriched by a liberal supply of farm yard manure. This oper- 

 ation is rendered necessary by th,tf fact that the roots have grown to a con- 

 siderable length from the time when .the trea was last transplanted and the 

 roots of one plant have intermingled with those of its neighbours. By repeat 

 ed transplanting the roots remain under control and the plants can stand 

 a long journey without any harvm. If the time between the second trans 

 planting and final despatch i* long, the plants may be transplanted again. 

 The plants are generally sold in the first month of the rainy season. 



Plants which have a very thiok stock sh -.nld not be purcha ed as they 

 do not make good growth at all. Plants which remain in the nursery for a 

 long time for want of a castpmea* .should be thrown away. Again, plants 

 w&ich have not been transplanted into another bed at least two months 

 before final planting are not worth purchasing. The purchaser should see 

 that the bandage is removed from the stock, which must be free from con- 

 strictions and that the stocks of the plants should have a fresh green bark ; 

 blackish or dark coloured .bark indicates old and stunted plants. 



