Propagation Budding, 



173 



the stock, a. The only implement necessary in the operation is the budding- 

 knife, of which there are various forms, but that called Curtis's is perhaps the 

 best. Let us suppose we have a stock which we are wishing to convert into 

 some favourite variety. In the first place obtain a shoot from the tree whose 

 identity we wish it to bear ; from this the leaves are cut off, leaving, however, about 

 half an inch of the leaf-stalk to every bud. Before proceeding further the prickles 

 should be rubbed off both stock and scion, that they may not interfere with the 

 operation or hurt the fingers of the operator. Now take the budding-knife in the 

 right hand and make a longitudinal cut, a a, about an inch in length, terminating 

 at the top end, b, with a cross-cut. In using the knife take care not to cut too deep ; 

 through the bark is all that is necessary ; deeper is, 

 indeed, injurious. Now turn the handle of the knife 

 to the incision, running it up and down the cut a a, 

 twisting it slightly on either side to raise or open 

 the bark. All is now ready for the reception of the 

 stranger bud. Take the shoot which is to furnish 

 it into the left hand, with the thicker part towards 

 the finger-ends. With the knife in the right hand 

 commence cutting about half an inch behind the bud, 

 passing the knife upwards under the bud, and to 

 about the same distance beyond it. The knife should 

 have a keen edge that the bark may not be ruffled 

 in the operation. In cutting out the bud the knife 

 should pass through almost level ; it may, how- 

 ever, in some cases dip a trifle when passing directly 

 under the bud, as the wood before and behind it are not always on the same 

 level. If the bud be cut ever so skilfully, there will be a little of the wood adhere 

 thereto. This some advise the removal of, others say, let it remain. Much depends 

 on circumstances. If the shoot is not fully ripe, or if, from the nature of the variety, 

 the wood is soft when taken, cut the bud as shallow as possible, and place it with 

 the wood in the stock. But the shoot is usually firm and ripe, and then the wood 

 should be withdrawn. To do this easily, place the bud between the forefinger and 

 thumb of the left hand, with the cut uppermost, and with the upper end pointing 

 from the hand. Insert the point of the knife just beneath the wood, c that is, 

 between the wood and the bark and by a skilful twist of the knife, which can only 

 be acquired by practice, the wood may be jerked out. Now, with the same hand 

 place the bud on the bark of the stock parallel with the longitudinal incision, a a, 

 and with the upper end towards the top of the shoot, then with the handle of the 

 knife raise the bark on the side opposite to that on which the bud is placed, pushing 

 two-thirds of the bud beneath the bark with the thumb. Now raise the bark on the 



Fig. 55. BUDDING. 



