192 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



young apple-tree, "I slip the thin ivory end of my 

 budding-knife that is made just for this I slip it 

 under the bark and loosen it, so. Then I can 

 slip the bud in yes. And now I tie it," he 

 _ said, taking a strand of damp raffia from the 



B bunch thrust under his apron-string, and be- 

 j ginning to bandage carefully. "I must cover 

 the cut well, so that the rain shall not get in ; 

 I must also have it close around the bud, so." 

 "Does it stay like that all winter?" asked 

 ,~. f ~ rf0 Finnan Haddie. 



"No, no ! In perhaps ten days I take the bandage 

 off; I must not choke the little fellow no!" 



"Now you 're going to let us bud 

 some of the trees, are n't you, Mr. Trom- 

 mel?" coaxed Mary. 



"What ! " exclaimed Herr Trommel, 

 turning himself around on his bench 

 and looking rather aghast at his visitors, 

 who had taken out expectant jack- 

 knives. "But I wish them to grow! 

 Am I not showing you how ? " 



The young gardeners looked crestfallen. 

 "But how can we learn, Mr. Trommel, if you won't 

 let us do some ourselves ? " asked Finnan Haddie. 



