PROPAGATION BY BUDDING. 



45 



August, when the buds destined for the following year 

 are completely formed in the axils of the leaves, and 

 when the portion of bark parts freely from the wood 

 beneath. The buds to be preferred are those on the 

 middle of a young shoot. There are many forms of 

 budding, but that which is simplest, and is generally 

 practiced in this country, called Shield-budding, need 

 alone be described. The operator should be provided 

 with a budding-knife, in which the cutting edge of the 

 blade is rounded off at the point, and which has a thin 

 ivory or bone handle, like a paper-folder, for raising the 

 bark of the stock. A horizontal or transversa incision 

 is made in the bark quite down to the wood, and from 

 this incision a perpendicular slit is drawn downwards, to 

 the extent of perhaps an inch. The slit (Fig. 3) has now 

 a resemblance to the letter T, q; a bud is then cut from 

 the tree wished to be propagated, having a portion of 

 the wood attached to it, so that the whole may be an 



inch and a half lor.g, as at s. 



The bit of wood is then 

 gently withdrawn, care being taken th., . the bud ad- 

 here wholly to the bark or shield, as it is called, as at 



