122 
rubbing off all the shoots crowding around the stumps, except those 
required for budding. The figure illustrates an old, coarse citron 
tree thus rejuvenated and ready to receive buds from some choicer 
varieties of citrus fruit. 
With the blade of the budding knife a longitudinal cut is made 
through the bark where the bud is to be slipped, and either at the 
top or at the base of that cut, a horizontal cut as well is made, so 
that the two cuts present the appearance of a letter T, standing 
either straight up or inverted. : 
This eut should be made a few inches from the ground if 
nursery stock is budded, or at any convenient height if other trees 
are operated upon. In all cases, the stick operated upon should 
have a smooth, young bark, easily lifted. When the vertical cut 
and the crosscut are made the corner lips are slightly raised with 
the blade or with the flattened ivory handle. This done, pick up 
the stick of bud wood and cut out a plump young bud, making the 
section about lin. to 14in. long, and a little longer below the bud 
than above. Some advocate picking out the portion of wood eut 
out with the bud, but good result ig obtained without doing this. 
Then, with the point of the knife, slightly raise the bark, slip the 
bud in, and gradually push it in under the bark. If in the proper 
condition for budding, the bark lifts readily. The bud is now ready 
for tying or for wrapping with the waxed cloth. When doing this 
commence slightly below the crosscut if it is at the bottom of the 
vertical cut, or slightly above if it is at the top; wrap pretty 
tightly around the stock over the bud in a‘spiral manner, each turn 
slightly overlapping the previous one until the whole cut is covered, 
then twist the waxed strip back and press the end against the folds 
already made, when it will adhere. In changeable weather it is 
well that the strips should overlap from above downwards, so as to 
prevent water running down the stem penetrating the eut. In 
Western Australia, where fair weather occurs pretty well all 
through the budding season, darning wool or rafia fibre are often 
used for tying the bud. 
Forctnc tHe Buns. 
After 10 to 12 days the buds are examined, and if plump, 
green, and alive, they are allowed to remain covered for another 
week or two, when the ties can be removed entirely. If the bud is 
dead, a fresh one can be inserted in a fresh cut. Left too long, the 
tie may cut into the growing tissues of the stock and smother the 
bud. If it is desired to force the buds, the tops of the branch on 
which the bud has been inserted is partly cut off 10 to 12 inches 
