206 FRUIT CULTURE. 



mat strings. It may be obtained at trifling cost 

 at the seed stores. If prepared with a very- 

 slight coating of wax, the work wiU be more 

 easily and better done. Some varieties of trees 

 have an excessive flow of sap, and the buds are 

 liable to be " drowned out," as it is termed. In 

 such cases it is recommended by some to make 

 the horizontal slit at the bottom of the perpen- 

 dicular incision, and then to insert the bud up- 

 wards instead of slipping it down as before. 

 This latter method, namely, of inverting the 

 cross (thus, j_), is that which is practiced with 

 maples and other ornamental trees, but is not 

 required for fruits. Other forms have also been 

 suggested, but they are rather ingenious than 

 useful. The common cross, T, will be found suf- 

 ficient for all ordinary cases. 



The conditions of success are : vigorous stocks 

 which peel freely ; sufficiently mature buds ; a 

 smooth, thin cut of the bud, with but little wood 

 adhering ; no roughing of the cambium under the 

 bark ; a good fit of the bud ; without delay ; and 

 an even binding of the bark so as to exclude all 

 air. In about ten days or a fortnight after this 

 work is done, if the stocks are vigorous, the 

 strings will begin to bind, when they will require 

 to be loosened, or, if the union appears to be 

 secure, a drawn cut with a sharp knife, on the 



