BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 



113 



the lowest plump bud. If to be budded immediately, all 

 the leaf is cut off, except the leaf stem, which is left for 

 convenience of inserting, and in order to attract the sap 

 into the buds. If the buds are to be preserved any time, 

 the whole leaf with half of the leaf stem is removed to 

 prevent evaporation. If this is done as soon as they are 

 cut, they may be preserved several days in a closely cov- 

 ered tin box, or tightly corked 

 preserve jar, if in a cool place, 

 and indeed, if the wood is well 

 ripened, though the footstalk of 

 the leaf will drop, the bud will be 

 in perfect condition some weeks. 

 No water need be given if there 

 are several cuttings in the box, as 

 the air becomes sufficiently satu- 

 rated with moisture from the cut- 

 tings themselves. 



The strings used for tying are 

 taken from bass-mats, which 

 should be wetted before use, until 

 perfectly pliable. Better strings 

 are made of white woollen yarn, 

 as they are more elastic, and 

 the color reflects the heat. The 

 pruning and budding knives are the only implements re- 

 quired for the operation. The condition of the budding 

 knife is of importance to success. It should be made thin, 

 and the edge kept perfectly smooth and keen. It is fig- 

 ured in the chapter upon tools. The mode in which bud- 

 ding is performed is shown in figure 45. 



Having the implements, stocks, and buds in the proper 

 condition, take the shoot in the left hand, and the bud- 

 ding knife in the right. Insert the edge of the knife in 

 the shoot, half an inch above the bud to be taken off. 

 The bud is taken off with a drawing cut, parallel with the 



Fi. 45. BUDDING. 



