Budding Explained. 77 
sap, if the bark is closed around the inserted bud closely enough 
to prevent the air from drying the two surfaces at the point of 
contact. 
In the engraving a is the cutting or “bud stick” from the 
tree of the kind into which it is desired to transform the seed- 
ling. This cutting is to be made from the growth of the pres- 
ent season, which has well-iormed buds at the axils of the leaves. 
If buds are desired to mature early, pinch off the ends of the 
shoots from which they are to be taken. Suckers and so-called 
“water sprouts” should not be used, but rather well-formed wood 
from the branches of the tree. It is requisite that the buds be 
taken from a vigorous, healthy tree of the variety desired. Bud 
sticks can be carried or sent considerable distances if packed 
in damp moss or other material to prevent drying. Sealing the 
ends with grafting wax is also a good precaution against drying 
out. 
Budding knives can be bought at all seed stores and cutlery 
establishments. They have a thin, round-ended blade at one 
end of the handle, and at the other end the bone is thinned 
down, or a bone blade inserted. The former is for cutting and 
the latter for lifting the bark of the stock into which the bud is 
to be placed. Armed with a bud stick and such a knife, the 
“budder” starts in upon a row of seedlings. Bending the seed- 
ling over a little and holding it between his left arm and his left 
leg, he reaches down for a smooth place on the bark as near the 
ground as convenient to work, and makes a horizontal cut, and 
from that a perpendicular cut dewnwards towards the roots, as 
shown at 0, in the engraving, with the bark slightly lifted and 
ready for the insertion of the bud. Next he cuts from his bud 
stick a bud, as shown atc. This carries with it, on the back, a 
small portion of the wood of the bud stick as well as the bud 
and bark. It was once claimed that this wood should be care- 
fully dug out, but in budding most kinds of trees it is not neces- 
sary; in fact, it may be better to leave it in; such at any rate 
is the general practise. The point of the bud is now inserted at 
the opening at the top of the slit in the bark of the stock and 
pushed down into place, as shown in figure d. To handle the 
bud the part of the leaf stem which is left on is of material assist- 
ance. Nothing remains now but to apply the ligature which is 
to hold down the bark around the bud. 
There are various ways of tying in the bud. Any way will 
do which holds down the bark closely, but not too tightly. 
Different materials are also used, soft cotton twine, stocking 
yarn, strips of cotton cloth, candle wicking, etc. The last- 
named is perhaps the best material, on ail accounts, although 
strips of cheap calico bear evenly upon the bark and do very 
