124 OPERATION OF BUDDING. 



the bud, and let the slice extend from half an inch 

 above the bud to one inch beneath it; then separ- 

 ate the woody part from the bark and bud, and ob- 

 serve narrowly whether the heart of the bud, that 

 is a small white knob like the head of a pin, has 

 remained with the wood, or come away with the 

 bark. If it adhere to the wood, the bud will be 

 found hollow it has lost its heart, and will not 

 live. Make a few more trials, and if the event be 

 still untoward, the buds are not sufficiently matured, 

 and the operation must be delayed. This is a bet- 

 ter rule to go by than the day of the month ; but 

 to avoid the trouble of too many trials, let the first 

 be for cherries, about the middle of summer ; for 

 pears and plums, a fortnight later ; and as much 

 later again for apples. When you find that the 

 bud peels right, choose a cloudy day, or an early 

 hour, and let the operation be so quick as not to 

 allow of a change in the colour of the sap by the 

 action of the air. Have the shoots at hand; and 

 before separating the bud prepare the place for its 

 reception, by selecting a smooth part of the stem 

 or branch to be inoculated, and making, with a 

 sharp knife, a perpendicular incision two inches long 

 and quite through the bark; near the head of this 

 incision make a cross cut, so as to admit of freely 

 raising the bark. The flat ivory handle of a desk 

 knife, or a piece of polished wood so shaped, may be 

 used for disengagiug the bark without disturbing 

 the sap. Into this aperture insert the bud, with 

 its own bark attached to it, and slide all down till 



