BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 115 



buds ; clean, smooth cuts ; the bark rising cleanly and 

 freely from the wood; the exact fit of the bud to the in- 

 cision ; and close, secure tying, to exclude the air and wa- 

 ter. If the operation is performed in moist weather, and 

 the bark of the bud is joined closely to the wood of the 

 stock, success is almost certain. If the stocks are in a 

 proper state, the upper edges only of the slit need be raised 

 with the haft, and the bud being gently pushed to its 

 place, will raise the bark smoothly before it, and the inser- 

 tion be more firm than if the bark had been entirely raised 

 with the haft. It is an operation requiring much exactness, 

 but may be done in one minute ; the point where a beginner 

 will most likely fail is in the proper removal of the bud. 



As soon as the bud has taken, the ligature may be loos- 

 ened, and should be entirely removed when it begins to 

 cut into the bark. If the leaf stalk, after a few days, drops 

 off, it indicates the bud has taken ; if it withers or adheres, 

 the bud is likely to be dead or dying. The buds must be 

 frequently examined, and the ties loosened, if becoming too 

 tight, as they will in growing stocks. If it is desired to 

 start the bud into immediate growth, soon after it has 

 evidently taken, the stock may be shortened to within 

 ten or twelve inches of the bud, and all shoots rubbed 

 off as they appear, except that from the inserted bud. 

 When this has grown three or four inches, the stock is cut 

 off again near the budded shoot, and when this has grown 

 some inches, the stock is cut off close to its base. When 

 it is desired that the bud should remain dormant, cutting 

 back the stock is delayed until just before the flow of sap 

 starts in spring. Buds that are not permitted to push 

 until spring soon overtake the others in growth. 



Budding is the most rapid mode of increasing rare va- 

 rieties, of which every bud is almost sure to make a good 

 plant if the operation is quickly and skillfully performed. 

 It is the easiest method of propagating apples, pears, and 

 most other fruit trees. In the case of peaches it is almost 



