OnXjrafting. 437 



be slit in strips by the edge of a pruning knife ; and 

 these strips are to be gently detached from the wood, 

 without bruising them, as is seen at E. 



While an assistant is engaged in this operation, 

 another prepares a cylinder or tube, C, having a bud 

 D, or several buds, and of equal diameter, to that of 

 the wood A, when barked. Then without loss of time 

 it is to be slid upon the wood, until its lower extre- 

 mity touches the basis of the strips : if the cylinder, 

 applied to the wood, is proportioned to it, and if it 

 covers all the wood, and unites exactly with it ; the 

 strips are to be cut off below the cylinder, by a circu- 

 lar cut, and after having made the two barks join, the 

 united parts are to be covered with the ointment of 

 St. Fiacre.*- 



* The ointment of St. Fiacre (the patron of gardeners) is a mix- 

 ture of cow dung and clay. The object being merely to cause the 

 just approximation of the edges of the bark, and to defend them 

 from the air and rain, any adhesive plaster will answer the purpose. 

 A mixture of turpentine, wax and resin spread on thin leather, 

 would probably answer better, not being liable to contract and fall 

 off by heat, or to be washed off by rain. 



