BUDDING 



21 



Half an inch of the leafstalk is left for convenience in 

 handling. The undeveloped buds on both ends of the 

 shoots are cut off, and we then have a stick from the mid- 

 dle of the shoots (Jig. 7), which can be used at once, or 

 packed away in damp cloth or moss to remain a few 

 days. 



Success is more certain when they are used soon after 

 they are cut from the tree. If the stock has limbs near 

 the ground they are cut away and a smooth portion of 

 bark selected where the bud is to be inserted, usually on 



Fig. 8.— A row of buds as they appear after the trees have been 

 cut off— budding carelessly done. 



the north side, from two to four inches from the ground. 

 With the budding knife, make an upright incision in the 



Fig. 9. — A row of trees budded by a careful hand. 



bark an inch and a half long, and a cut at right angles 

 across the top, the whole resembling the letter T (fig. 

 10). The bark is then slightly raised (Jig. 11.) 



Take the stick of buds in the left hand, and with the 

 budding knife cut off a thin slice of bark, about an inch 

 and a half long, having a bud and a small portion of wood 

 attached (figs. 12 to 14). It is then pushed carefully 



