206 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



is seen at the base of the bud, the latter is useless ; there- 

 fore select a fresh one which shows no hole when the wood 

 is re'moved. The bud and its shield of bark are now ready, 

 and should be placed in the mouth or in a vessel of water 

 to keep moist until the stock is prepared for their reception. 



The next step is to prepare the stock. About two days 

 before the budding is performed, rub off all side shoots 

 that grow nearer than six inches from the soil. Now, with 

 the knife, make a transverse incision in the bark 6in. from 

 the ground, and then an upright one lin. long, so that the 

 cut represents the letter T. With the bone handle of the 

 budding-knife raise the bark carefully on each side of the 

 cut; then get the bud and insert the lower end of the 

 shield under this, and gently press it down to the base of 

 the vertical cut. If the upper end of the shield projects 

 above the cross cut, cut it off even with the latter. Next 

 get a piece of bast, or yarn, and bind this round firmly, 

 above and below the bud, to exclude the air, and press 

 the inner side of the shield firmly on to the wood of the 

 stock. 



The operation is now complete. All that remains is to 

 see that no new shoots form below the bud. In autumn 

 cut the stock back to 2in. above the bud, and a month 

 after budding unloosen the ligature to allow the stock to 

 expand. The next year, when the shoot produced from 

 the bud has grown about ift. long, cut the main stem 

 back to i in. above the bud, and in a position sloping away 

 from it, and coat this wound with grafting wax. Budding 

 may be practised from June to September. 



Cuttings. Such fruit trees as Currants, Gooseberries, 

 Figs, etc., are readily increased by cuttings of the ripened 

 current year's shoots. Apple and Pear trees may also be 

 reared from cuttings, but, as trees so reared grow slowly, 

 this method is not practised except for rearing trees for 

 pot culture. 



Gooseberry and Currant cuttings should be prepared 

 from shoots about Sin. long. Cut the base off straight 



