188 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



Plates XIII and XIV show the different steps in the 

 process of shield budding citrus trees as done in Florida. 



Select the point at which the bud is to be inserted 

 and remove all thorns or branches which may interfere 

 with the work. Then a perpendicular slit an inch and 

 a half in length is made on the side of the stock (1) and 

 at its lower end a cross cut is made with the cutting edge 

 of the blade slanting upwards (2). A cut of this kind 

 is preferable, as it makes it easier to insert the bud. 

 Then the corners formed by the intersection of the two 

 cuts are carefully lifted with the point of the knife blade 

 to permit the entrance of the bud (3) or the bone end 

 of the handle may be used instead. Then the bud-stick is 

 grasped in one hand with its proximal end away from 

 the operator. To remove the bud, start the knife in about 

 one-half inch below it and pass it smoothly along beneath 

 it and finish the cut about one-half inch above the bud 

 (4). The cut is best made from below the bud, upwards, 

 as there is less likelihood of its being injured by the up- 

 ward pressure of the knife against it. After having re- 

 moved the bud, it is held lightly between the thumb and 

 fore-finger and shoved upwards in the incision made for 

 its reception (5). Do not invert it in inserting. Gener- 

 ally each bud bears beneath it a leaf stalk or the scar 

 left where it has been dropped or has been cut off. When 

 the bud is inserted, this scar should be nearest the ground. 

 Then the wrapping, a strip of waxed cloth, or raffia, is 

 placed about the stock over the inserted bud to hold the 

 latter snugly in place and closely in contact with the 

 cambium of the stock (7.) In all cases the wrapping 

 should be drawn over the intersecting cuts first, and then 

 worked upward in the reversed method or downward in 

 the ordinary one, as followed in California. 



