PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING 



229 



spatula, but raise the lips of bark with the blade of the 

 budding knife. The center of a strip of moistened raffia 

 is then applied to the stock just below the inserted bud ; 

 the ends of the strip are crossed on the opposite side of 

 the stock, brought forward and again crossed just above 

 the bud, thus covering the horizontal cut of the T. The 

 ends of the raffia are then brought behind the stock, tied 

 in a half knot, and drawn moder- 

 ately tight (Fig. 125), pressing 

 the lips down snugly about the 

 bud, which now protrudes be- 

 tween the lips. 



If the bud "takes," it will 

 unite with the stock in a few 

 days. The raffia should be taken 

 off in about ten days, by cut- 

 ting it on the back side of the 

 stock, to enable the latter to ex- 

 pand by growth. 



397. The budding knife should 

 contain a blade of good steel, 

 shaped as indicated in Fig. 128, 

 and a round-edged spatula for 

 lifting the bark. The spatula is 

 better placed on the back of the 

 blade, as shown in Fig. 129. 



398. Ring-budding is used to some extent in the propa- 

 gation of thick-barked plants, such as the hickory and mag- 

 nolia. A section of bark is removed nearly or entirely 

 around the stock, and a similar section, containing a bud 

 from the variety it is desired to propagate, is fitted to its 

 place and snugly bound with raffia. Ring budding is 

 oftener performed in spring than later in the season. 



FIG. 131. Two plants bound 

 together for approach-graft- 

 ing. 



