Propagation 



shoots on the same stock. The young tree is then 

 built up from the growth produced from the inserted 

 bud, and any growths from the stock below the bud 

 are removed as they arise. 



For " standards " the buds are inserted at a point 

 several feet above the ground, but for dwarf trees 

 a single bud is inserted quite near the ground 

 level on the north side of each young stock. (See 

 diagrams, Figs. 22 and 20 respectively.) 



The buds are more likely to " take " when they are 

 inserted in young green shoots of the current year's 

 growth. 



A sharp knife is most essential, and a proper 

 budding-knife with a flattened end to the bone 

 handle can be obtained from most ironmongers, 

 but, failing this, an old tooth-brush handle filed 

 down for the purpose and an ordinary penknife 

 may be employed. 



THE OPERATION. In the bark of the selected 

 stock an incision is made about an inch long and 

 running lengthwise with the shoot. A second incision 

 half an inch long, made at the upper end of the first, 

 then forms the capital T shown in Fig. 22. The 

 flattened end of the bone handle is then used to press 

 the bark away from the wood on each side of the 

 T-shaped incision. 



A plump bud is then cut as quickly as possible 

 from a young and well-ripened shoot of the variety 

 which is to be propagated. (See diagram, Fig. 20.) 



In cutting this bud the knife should go just 

 through the bark and slightly into the wood, but 

 not too deeply. The small piece of wood at theback 

 of the detached bud should then be removed with 

 the knife-blade and the thumb of the right hand. 



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