26 



of the stock. After the bud has been pushed partly down with 

 the fingers, place the blade of the knife one-fourth of an inch above 

 the eye of the bud and perpendicular to the line of the first incis- 

 ion, press the knife through the bark of the bud and by a down- 

 ward motion force the bud down till the knife comes directly over the 

 second incision. Tie in the bud with strips of cloth a quarter or a 

 half inch wide, or, what is better, with strings of woolen yarn, as it 

 elasticity will not allow the strangling of the bud so soon. In tying 

 do not bring the cloth or string in contact with the eye of the bud. So 

 wrap as to hold the bud firmly in its place and to exclude the rain if 

 any should fall soon after budding. Revisit the buds 8 or 10 days 

 after they have been inserted. If they are living take the wrapping 

 from that part of the bud below the eye. The wrapping above the 

 eye may be loosened but it should not be taken off so soon. Where 

 the bud is living cut off the stock three or four inches above. As the 

 bud grows it should be tied to this upper section of the stock for sup- 

 port. After the bud has started on its second growth, if the stock is 

 small, it should now be cut off just above the bud, if larger a longer 

 time should be allowed before cutting off the stock close to the bud. 



Before leaving this subject attention is called to the importance of 

 having the top of the bud fit neatly against the bark above. The law 

 governing the growth of trees is this : the sap passing upward through 

 the pores of the sap wood is elaborated through the leaf. It is only 

 after the new sap has entered the leaf and absorbed carbon from the 

 atmosphere that it is ready to make new wood. The sap having 

 secured its carbon descends the tree mainly between the bark and the 

 wood. As it descends evaporation is carried on through the pores of 

 the bark, and the thickened sap makes a deposit along the line of its 

 descent and around the trunk of the tree just under the bark. This 

 thickened sap presently hardens into wood. It is this fact, that new 

 wood is generally formed by this downward flow of sap, which makes 

 it so important that the top of the bud should come in close contact 

 with the upper bark. Placed thus it is put in contact with, and in the 

 way of the direct current of life. Placed otherwise its hope of life is 

 dependent upon lateral circulation or absorption. 



