GRAFT A GE. 



7> 



made across the top of the vertical cut by one rocking motion 

 of the blade towards the body The corners of the bark may 



be lifted a little by an outward 

 motion of the blade so as to. 

 allow the bud to be pushed in, 

 but unless the bark slips very 

 freely it will have to be loosened 

 by the end of the blade or by the 

 scalpel on the reverse end of the 

 handle, as previously described. 

 The bud is now inserted in the 

 cleft of the bark. It is pushed 

 down part way by the fingers, as 

 in Fig. 64, but it is usually 

 driven home by pushing down 

 upon the leaf-stalk handle with 

 the back of the knife-blade. 

 The entire bud should pass into 

 the cleft ; or if a portion of it 



Fig. 63. Preparing the stock. 



should project above it should be cut off. If the bark peels 

 freely, the bud will slip in easily and will follow the cleft, but if 

 it sticks somewhat, more care is necessary to prevent the bud 

 from running out. If the bark is very tight, it may have to be 

 loosened with the knife throughout the length of the cleft ; but 

 budding should be performed, if possible, when such pains are 

 not necessary. 



The bud must now be tied. The whole matrix should be 

 closed and bound securely, as represented in Fig. 65. The dot- 

 ted lines parallel with the cleft show the extent to which the bud 

 projects under the bark. The string is usually started below 

 the bud, the end being held by lapping the second course over it, 

 and the upper end being secured by drawing a bow through 

 under the upper course. Care should be taken not to bind the 

 string over the bud itself. The strings are previously cut the 

 required length about a foot and the tying is performed very 

 quickly. Any soft cord can be employed. Yarn and carpet 

 warp are sometimes used. The most common material, at least 



