THE PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES. 



17 



stock, forming a loop within which the growing shoot has room 



to expand, the string touching it only on one side, the side of 



the shoot farthest from the stock. Figure 15 represents a growing 



bud tied to the stock. In the month of July the bud will have 



acquired sufficient strength to enable it to stand erect 



without the aid of any support from the stock. The 



stock should now be cut back down to the bud. 



The pruning knife used for this should be both 



strong and sharp, and placing the edge agaiost the 



stock on the side opposite the bud, with a sloping 



cut, drawing the knife upwards and towards the 



bud, the stock should be cut smoothly off in such 



a way that there shall be not a particle of the stock 



left above the bud. The white line across the stock. 



Figure 15, shows the place where the cut should 



be made, thus taking off all that part of the stock 



above the white line. 



Budding may be performed in the spring, by keeping the 

 scions in a cool place where the buds will not start, and inserting 

 them in the stock after growth has commenced, but it is seldom 

 practised in this country, because success is not as certain, and 

 for want of time at a season when so many things require atten- 

 tion. 



Some cultivators have found it advantageous in budding 

 plums, in particular, in which the upper part of the bud fre- 

 quently dies although the lower part has imited with the stock, 

 to use two separate ligatm-es in tying, covering the part below the 

 bud with one bandage, and the part above with the other. As 

 soon as the bud seems to have taken, the lower bandage is re- 

 moved, but the other is allowed to remain for two or three weeks 

 longer, which arrests the downward sap and perfects the union of 

 the upper part of the bud with the stock. 



Fig. 15. 



