202 Budding. 



yellow leaves are noticed, the proportion would be reversed. The rule 

 is, that trees should be budded in the order of their vigor, the least 

 thrifty first, and the most thrifty last, and when many are to be budded 

 a beginning should be made as soon as the buds to be inserted are ripe, 

 that is, when the wood is sufficiently hard and firm. 



It is commonly I'ecommended, after making the horizontal and per- 

 pendicular cuts through the bark, to raise the bai'k with the handle of 

 the knife, so as to insert the bud, but the stock ought to be in such con- 

 dition that if the corners of the bark are raised a little with the point of 

 the knife blade, the bud can be pushed down without using the handle 

 at all. In this way the bark is raised just as far as is necessary, and no 

 farther ; while, if the knife handle is used, the bark is very likely to be 

 separated from the wood, especially by inexperienced operators, far- 

 ther than is necessary. 



The horizontal cut is generally made squarely through the bark ; but 

 it will be found that the bud is inserted more easily, especially in stocks 

 where the bark has become thickened, when the cut is made to slope 

 downward. Sometimes when we have had occasion to insert a bud 

 under a very thick bark, we have shaved off half or more of its thick- 

 ness to advantage. Instead of pushing down the bud by means of the 

 portion of the leafstalk left on it, we have often effected this part of the 

 operation better by sticking in the point of the knife a little way, just 

 above the bud, the knife being held with the back of the blade down- 

 ward, and a little slanting, so that the side shall bear gently against the 

 bud, and thus pushing it down. Of course this is a somewhat delicate 

 operation ; but a clumsy-fingered man had better not undertake to bud 

 at all. We prefer a budding-knife with a straight back, and the edge 

 rounded at the end. It should be. kept literally " as sharp as a razor." 



We are decidedly opposed to the practice of taking out the wood 

 from the bud as a general thing. Perhaps the union is a little more 

 perfect, but we do not think the advantage is sufficient to compensate 

 for the trouble and the risk of spoiling a large propoilion of buds by 

 losing the wood from their hearts. If the bud happens to be from a 

 shoot which has finished its growth, the only way to remove the wood 

 is to cut it out with the knife, and this we cannot advise under any cir- 

 cumstances. If the buds are very large, and the stocks small, and you 

 do not mind spoiling a few buds, it may be well to take out the wood. 



The best thing to tie in with is strips of bass bark, moistened with 

 water. Take one of the strings by the two ends, one in each hand, and 

 lay the middle flat on the slit in the bark just above the bud ; then, 

 by moving it from side to side a little, it can be worked slightly under 



