THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



until the last few years, has been bass matting. This is the 

 inner bark of the bass-wood or linden. The bark is stripped in 



early summer, and the inner 

 portion is macerated or ' ' rotted " 

 in water for four or five weeks. 

 It is then removed, cut into the 

 desired lengths, and stripped into 

 narrow bands one-fourth t o 

 one-half inch wide when it 

 may be sorted and stored away 

 for future use. If it is stiff and 

 harsh when it comes from the 

 maceration, it should be pounded 

 lightly or rubbed through the 

 hands until it becomes soft and 

 pliable. The best tying material 

 which we now have is undoubt- 

 edly raffia It is an imported 

 article, coming from the eastern 

 tropics (the product of the palm 

 Raphia Ruffiti], but it is so cheap 

 Fig. 64. Bud entering matrix. tfaat it win probab i y supersede 



even bass-bark, it is strong and pliable, and is an excellent 

 material for tying up plants in the greenhouse, or small ones 

 out-doors. The greatest disadvantage in its use in the budding 

 field is its habit of rolling when it becomes dry. 



In two or three weeks after the bud is set it will have " stuck " 

 or united to the stock. The bandage must then be removed or 

 cut. It is the common practice to draw a budding-knife over 

 the strings, on the side opposite the bud, completely severing 

 them and allowing them to fall off as they will. If the strings 

 are left on too long they will constrict the stem and often kill the 

 bud, and they also have a tendency to cause the bud to "break " 

 or begin to grow. The bud should remain perfectly dormant 

 until spring, for if it should begin to grow it will be injured and 

 perhaps killed by the winter. It should remain green and 

 fresh ; if it shrivels and becomes brown, even though it still 



