many different types in South Africa; none equal to the "Washing- 

 ton," and even of this variety there are several different "strains," 

 some of which are far better than others. 



Buds should not be taken from trees which have not borne fruit — 

 there is always room for doubt as to whether such are really true to 

 name. This is the principal objection, although it has been stated 

 that buds taken from immature trees are liable to develop into those 

 of an unfruitful character. 



Oftentimes budwood is taken from the parent tree and used almost 

 immediately; in this case it is necessary to keep the "bud sticks," 

 as they are called, in a damp cloth in order that their freshness may 

 be maintained. In other cases this is not possible, and so the budwood 

 is kept until needed either in damp sand, moss, or cloths ; the use of 

 the latter calls for frequent attention in order to prevent drying out. 



The budding outfit calls first for the budwood, then for a good, 

 sharp budding knife of the type shown, and, lastly, for material with 

 Avhich to wrap the buds after insertion. 



Custom differs according to individual taste as to how and with 

 what the bud should be wrapped. In some cases ordinary raffia grass 

 is iised with good results ; in others — and this is especially so in those 

 parts where budding is done in the rainy beusou — a waxed cloth is 

 used, which is wrapped entirely over the newly-set bud, thus excluding 

 the possibility of the injurious action of air or water. 



Wrapping of this description is made best from thin white calico. 

 Tear it in pieces of half a yard or so and then dip them into a mixture 

 composed of equal parts of beeswax and best paraffin candles, melted 

 together in a fairly open tin or iron pan, strain off the superfluous wax 

 by drawing the calico through two pieces of thin board, and hang the 

 material on a line. As soon as it is dry it is ready for use, and may 

 be torn or cut up into lengths suitable for wrapping round the buds. 



If it is too much trouble to make wrappers this wa^-, tape of the 

 right width may be purchased and treated in a similar mannei-. 



Cutting and Insertion of the Buds. — Buds are severed from the 

 budstick as shown in the illustration. The knife used should have a 

 razor edge, so that the buds may have a clean-cut, smooth surface at 

 the back, and so unite readily with the growing wood of the stock. 



The bark of the stocks is opened, as depicted, and in a similar 

 manner to the method adopted in the budding of deciduous fruit trees, 

 with the exception that the T-shaped cuts are inverted and the buds 

 pushed upwards under the bark instead of downwards as in the former 

 process ; the object of this reversal is to prevent as far as possible the 

 entrance of water behind the bud, quite a necessary precaution in some 

 parts of South Africa. After the bud is inserted the whole stock is 

 wrapped over with waxed cloth sufficiently firmly to bring the bud 

 and stock into close contact. Wrapping the bud too loosely or too 

 tightly affects its growth adversely, in fact oftentimes prevents growth 

 at all. 



