D'ALBEET'S PRACTICE— DORMANT EYES. 311 



under the two lips of the out, only partially opened previously, for it is 

 by gently pushing in the bud with the thin part of the handle of the 

 budding knife that the opening is sufficiently effected. When the bud 

 is perfectly fitted at the base and placed as is represented, the portion 

 of its bark which extends above the transverse line is out off. This 

 operation is represented by Fig. XLV. 6. The two lips are then brought 

 together and fixed over the bark of the bud by means of woollen or 

 thick cotton thread, the length of this thread being proportioned to the 

 thickness of the stock ; two-thirds of the length should be kept in 

 reserve in the right hand, the rest in the left. Thus divided, we place 

 it opposite the bud and draw the two ends with a moderate force, 

 crossing them above the bud and as close to it as possible without 

 crushing it. Two or three other turns should be made ia the same 

 manner, winding the thread continually in the same direction, and 

 finally securing it by a half-knot. When the stocks are strong it is as 

 weU to inspect the ligatures soon and to loosen them occasionally, in 

 order to preserve the buds from strangulation. When the bud shall 

 have completely taken the ligature may be removed, and we then cut 

 off all shoots springing from the stock below the bud in order that the 

 latter may appropriate the whole of the sap. 



Dormant Eyes {d, eeil dormant).— Sotae time before performing this 

 operation select the place on each stock which the bud is to occupy, and 

 remove all shoots likely to deprive it of the free contact of air. If this 

 precaution has been neglected, then the removal of the shoots should 

 only take place at the moment when the bud is inserted, and even then 

 there is a chance of failure. It has long been known that this mode of 

 budding has great advantages over others, seeing that if the buds do 

 not succeed the stocks are but little deteriorated by the proceeding ; 

 there is frequently an opportunity of repeating the operation ten or 

 twelve days after the first, and, as a last resource, these stocks may be 

 grafted over again in the following season. Experienced budders judge 

 that it is time to perform the operation when three-fourths at least of the 

 shoots of each stock have ceased to push ; ia this state the bark is mature, 

 and yet can be easUy detached from the woody substance which it 

 covers, and the sap being more stationary, we no longer dread impetu- 

 ous superabundance, which is always detrimental to the buds, frequently 

 causing them to perish from plethora, or as we say to be drowned in 

 sap. If, however, circumstances render it necessary to bud before this 

 excessive fiow of sap is over, which is indicated by the great number of 

 shoots still forming, it is proper to cut back all the soft tops as soon as 

 the bud is inserted. The ligature should be removed at the fall of the 

 leaf, in order to avoid the stagnation of moisture about the bud. The 

 heads of the stocks thus budded shojxld be cut hack in the following 

 spring, for we must not be in too m^ich haste, especially with delicate 

 species having viscid sap. Cut backjthe stock to within an eighth of an 



