214 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



the direct rays of the sun. The success of the operation 

 depends on its being performed rapidly, and with fresh, 

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

 and freely from the wood; the exact lit of the bud to the 

 incision; and close, secure tying, to exclude the air and 

 water. 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 

 insertion 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 re- 

 moval of the bud. 



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

 loosened, 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 



