470 THE NURSERY. [JULY 



is the more preferable, and with the assistance of the thumb, pull 

 off the wood from the bark, which ought, if in good condition, to part 

 freely; then quickly examine the inside, to see if the root of the bud 

 be left, and if there appears a small hole, the rudiment of the young 

 tree is gone with the wood, the bud is rendered useless, and another 

 must be prepared; but if there be no hole, the bud is good; then place 

 the footstalk or back part of the bud between your lips, and with the 

 flat haft of the knife, separate the bark from the stock on each side 

 of the perpendicular cut, clear to the wood for the admission of the 

 bud, which, directly slip down close between the wood and bark, till 

 the whole is inserted to within the eighth of an inch ; let this part 

 be cut through into the first transverse incision made in the stalk, 

 and the bud will fall neatly into its place ; then draw the bud up 

 gently so as to join the upper or cut end of it to the bark of the 

 stalk, where it will most generally first unite. 



Let the parts be then bound with a ligature of bass, previously 

 immersed in water to render it pliable and tough, or, in want of this, 

 with woollen yarn ; beginning below the bottom of the perpendicular 

 slit, and proceeding upwards close around every part, except over the 

 eye or bud, which is to be carefully preserved, and continue it a little 

 above the horizontal cut, not binding it too tight, but just sufficient 

 to keep the parts close, exclude the air, sun, and wet, and thereby to 

 promote the junction of -the stalk and bud; finish by making the 

 ligature fast. 



2. Although it is universally recommended by every author who 

 has written on the art of gardening to fake the woody part out of 

 the bud before its insertion into the stalk, as above directed, I find 

 such practice by no means necessary; for if the bud be taken off with 

 a less portion of wood than in the former method, and immediately 

 inserted as above directed, it will succeed full as well, if not better ; 

 and as to expedition, there is no comparison ; certainly double the 

 number can be inserted in the same period of time by this method 

 as by the former. It will be found particularly convenient for the 

 budding of lemons and oranges, and may also be practised at periods 

 in which the first method would be totally unsuccessful, that is, when 

 the buds are not sufficiently ripe to exist without the young wood, or 

 too much so for the bark to separate freely. This method may be 

 practised, when desired, at a much earlier period than the former, 

 and also as late in the season as the bark of the stalk will rise freely 

 for the admission of the bud. 



In three weeks or a month after inoculation, you will see which of 

 them have taken, by their fresh and plump appearance, and at that 

 time you should loosen the bandages, for if kept on too long they 

 would pinch the stalks, and greatly injure, if not destroy, the buds. 

 Those that appear shrivelled, black, or decayed, are good for nothing. 



In this dormant state the buds should remain till the March fol- 

 lowing, when the stalks are to be headed down, as directed in the 

 t nursery for that month. 



Note. The cuttings should not be taken off the trees in the mid- 

 dle of the day, if the weather be hot and dry, for at such times they 

 will perspire so fast as soon to leave the buds destitute of moisture ; 



