;i8 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



so low as the cross- ci; '; It is of consequence that the cross-cut of the shield and stock 

 fit exactly, so see that the shield has not slipped before binding up. Having made sure 

 that all is right, bind firmly with cotton wick, beginning at the bottom, being cautious 

 not to tie the bud so as to prevent its growing. Using a piece of cotton about a foot 

 long, and placing the middle of it against the stock and crossing backwards and forwards, 

 there is no difficulty in bringing one crossing just at the base of the leaf stalk, and the 

 next close above the bud but leaving it clear. Different materials are used for tying the 

 bud. Any will do that holds it down closely, but candle wick is perhaps the best, and 

 does not cut into the bark, though fibre from bass mats and raphia are also good for tying. 

 In nursery practice the budder does not usually tie his buds, but is followed by a " tyer " 

 who makes them secure. The process of budding as described is very simple, and cannot 

 be misunderstood on following the illustration. In Fig. 19 u is the shoot of the current 

 year's growth from which the buds are taken for transference to the stock. The buds 

 shown in the axils of the leaves are wood buds, fruit buds are shown to the right and 

 left of the shoot, and double and triple buds at its base. The dotted lines indicate the 

 point of detachment of the leaves. The shield or bud taken is shown in v ; reverse 

 side, w, with wood in ; inside of shield with wood out, #, but prominent alburnous 

 wood leading to the eye ; interior of shield showing hole, #, or hollow eye, a worthless 

 bud ; and z shows the bud in semi-profile ready for insertion. 



Now we turn to the stock. F shows the cross-cut, vertical slit, and bark raised 

 ready for the reception of the bud. G represents the bud inserted, the cross dotted line 

 showing the cross-cut necessary for severing the upper end of the shield, the usual portion 

 cut off being indicated by the curved line. H shows the bud made secure by tying. The 

 points at which the stocks are shown worked indicate the heights to suit different modes 

 of culture, namely, stocks which are employed for their root influence only, such as 

 the quince for pears, 3 inches ; for trees generally on dwarfing stocks, 6 inches ; for 

 trees required with a stem or branches not nearer the ground than 1 foot, 9 inches. 

 Standards not having stems of their own should be budded at the height of stem 

 desired. 



The time of budding depends entirely upon the season and condition of growth. 

 Cherries and apricots are sometimes ready by the end of June, but later is preferable ; yet 

 the work must be done whilst the bark, with the bud, can be properly detached from the 

 wood. The order of budding may be taken as follows : first, cherries ; second, apricots ; 

 third, plums, apples, pears ; fourth, nectarines and peaches ; fifth, walnuts. All stocks 



