MANUAL OF GENEKAL AGEICULTUEE. 



71 



loosened with the ivory heel of the budding knife, and the 

 bud, grasped by the leaf stem as a handle, placed under 

 the flap and firmly pushed into place until its cut surface is 

 entirely in contact with the peeled body of the stock (fig. 

 11, a). Eaffia is then tightly drawn about, above and be- 

 low the bud to hold it in place until the union shall be 

 formed (fig. 11, b). Bands of raffia about 16 or 18 inches 

 long make a most convenient tying material. As soon as 

 the buds have united with the stock, the raffia should be 

 cut in order to prevent girdling the stock. This done, the 

 operation is complete until the following spring, when all 

 the trees in which the buds have "taken" should have 

 the tops cut off just above the bud (fig. 11, c). The re- 

 moval of the top forces the entire strength of the root 

 into the bud, and since the root itself has not been dis- 

 turbed by transplanting, a more vigorous growth usually 

 results from the bud than from scions in whip grafting 

 when the roots are disturbed. 





FIG. 11. Budding; a, inserting the ~bud; b, tying ; c, cutting off 

 the top. 



