AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 

 Fig. 105. 



a. The stock prepared for receiving the bud. 



h. The stock, with the bud inserted and shortened. 



c. The stock, with the bud inserted and bound. 



bark, about half an inch or less long ; then, turning your knife 

 point down-ffai'd, vritli your right fore-finger pressing upon the 

 back of the blade, the handle being held fii-mly between the 

 thumb and middle finger, make a straight, clean slit from an 

 inch below upward to the cross cut, forming a T. "When at the 

 cross cut, and before withdrawing the knife, rack it once from 

 side to side, so as with the edge to loosen and slightly open 

 the bark at that point (Fig. 105 a) ; quickly turning the knife 

 handle down, and holding it as a pen is held in writing, pass 

 the square corner of the bone handle carefully under each edge 

 of the slit, opening it just enough to admit the bud, and no 

 more ; then, having inserted this, slip it down toward the bot- 

 tom of the slit so far as to make it sit fii'mly in its place, rising 

 for this pm'pose either the finger laid upon the piiece of leaf- 

 stem and the bud, or the dull notch intended for that pm'pose at 

 the opposite comer of the handle (see p. 211). If the upper 

 end of the bark of the Ijud extend at all above the cross cut, 

 take it off by passing the knife once more along the cross line, 

 so that it will set in nicely (Fig. 105 b). Then tie it carefidly 

 and tightly, Ijeginning at the bottom, and taking special care 



