GRAFTING, BUDDING, AND STOCKS. 105 



Fig. 28. The buds at the base of the branches and also 

 those near the top are rejected, and only those in the 

 middle portion are used. Holding the wood as shown, 

 make a clean cut with a sharp knife, entering the wood 

 deepest just below the bud. Then come out with a long 

 slope. The next operation is the most delicate and also 

 the most important of the whole performance. Hold the 



FIG. 28. CUTTING OUT A BUD. 



bud thus removed firmly by the leaf stalk between the 

 thumb and finger, and with the other thumb nail carefully 

 commence to lift the wood from the bark, then strip clean 

 off by a somewhat sharp jerk. Then examine the bud, 

 and if this operation has been successfully performed 

 there should be no cavity at the bud, but the alburnum or 

 eye of the bud should be left in even with the bark. It 

 sometimes happens with an unskilful workman, or when 



