60 NATURE TEACHING. 



two branches can be brought into close 

 contact taking care that the selected branch- 

 es are of nearly the same thickness at the 

 points where they are to be operated upon. 

 Devise some means whereby the two plants, 

 or at least the two selected branches, may, be 

 firmly secured so that the scion may be kept 

 in position on the stock. The method of doing 

 this will depend on the size and character of 

 the two plants ; merely binding the two branches 

 together will be sufficient in many cases, or, if 

 the stock is a large tree and the plant providing 

 the scion is contained in a pot, the latter can 

 be secured to the trunk or to a branch of the 

 stock. Having made these preparations, cut 

 away a piece of the stock at the selected point, 

 removing from two to four inches of the bark 

 with a little of the wood below it, taking care 

 that the cut is smooth and even. Make a 

 similar cut on the scion, in such a position 

 that the two cut surfaces may be brought into 

 close contact and will fit together fairly well. 

 Bring the two surfaces together, secure them 

 in position by means of strong, soft twine tied 

 both above and below the place operated upon 

 and, finally, wrap a strip of budding tape firm- 

 ly around the united branches covering the 

 junction completely ; the edges of the tape 

 should overlap so as to prevent the evapora- 



