70 HOETICULTUEAL MANUAL. 



and pear as late as the last days of August and first days 

 of September. 



73. How to Cut and Insert Buds. What is known as 

 the T or shield bud is used almost exclusively in the 

 United States and Canada. The buds, as shown in Fig. 

 37, are cut from the new wood of the same season's growth. 

 The shoots cut from the variety we wish to propagate are 

 called " bud sticks." As cut the leaves are clipped off, 

 leaving a short stub, as shown in Fig. 34, to handle the bud 

 with when inserting. If taken in the fingers the tender 

 cut surface is injured. In using, the bud sticks are kept 

 wrapped in a moist cloth, whence they are taken one at a 

 time as used. In making the T cut a smooth surface is 

 selected on the north side of the stock. The downward 

 slit is first made. In making the cross-cut slope the knife 



downward, as shown in Fig. 

 39. This slope aids in shoving 

 the bud quickly under the 

 bark. To prevent moisture 

 getting in at the top cut the 

 bud with the longest part above. 

 Shove it down to place and cut 

 off the upper part so as to join 

 the slope of the stock. The 



, mode of tying is shown at Fig. 

 FIG. 38. Cutting the bud J & 



with inverted scion. 36. The material used for 



tying is a palm fibre from 



Madagascar, known commercially as "Raffia." For 

 use it is slightly moistened, but not made wet. If 

 used wet it will loosen when dry. In cutting the 

 buds from the bud-stick, the novice usually cuts too 

 shallow and splits the bark at each end. In cutting, invert 

 the bud-stick as shown in Fig. 38. From start to finish 

 keep the knife down, taking with the bark a thin shaving 



