175 



somewhere in a shaded place and not removed from its pot 

 till it has made a vigorous growth, and stock and scion have 

 become thoroughly incorporated." * 



This operation of inarching is often performed naturally, 

 and it is not uncommon to find branches of trees which, after 

 pressing and rubbing against the stems and branches of neigh- 

 bouring trees, have become joined to them at the- points of 

 contact. This is even more frequently the case with roots, 

 and such natural root grafting probably explains some cases of 

 failure in ringing trees and instances of stumps producing 

 coppice shoots which, as a rule, are unable to do so. 



152. Budding is another variety Budding. 



of grafting which is commonly practised. This must be 

 carried out when the sap is up and is best done just 

 before the period of vigorous growth. A T-shaped cut is 

 made in the cortex of the stock down to the wood. A piece 

 of cortex, called the " shield," bearing a healthy stout bud 

 is detached from the wood of the scion and inserted in the 

 T cut, the latter being then bound round tightly with 

 cotton-twist or other bandage. The inside of the shield thus 

 lies closely against the wood of the stock and the bud projects 

 through the slit in its cortex. One or several buds may be 

 thus grafted on the stock, and when these have developed 

 vigorous shoots, the branches of the stock are cut back 

 close above the budded shoots, so that the water-current from 

 the roots may not be diverted from the latter. 



* Op. cit., pages 84-85. 



