BUDDING. 



69 



removing the bark and the bud attached, with a slight por- 

 tion of the wood beneath the bud, half an inch above, and 

 three-fourths of an inch below. The English remove this 

 slight portion of the wood, taking care not to injure the 

 root of the bud ; but it does not succeed so well in this 

 climate as if a small portion of wood be left directly under 

 the bud. Select, then, a small portion of the stock free 

 from branches, and make two cuts through the bark, one 

 across the end of the other, in the shape of a T, as in the 

 figuie. Then raise the bark on the two edges of the per- 

 pendicular cut with the smooth ivory haft of the budding- 

 knife ; insert the bud gently beneath the parts raised ; cut 

 off the top of the bark attached to the bud square, that it 

 may fit the cut across the stock; then wind the bass 

 pretty tightly about the stock ; cover every part of the 

 incision, except the bud and leaf-stalk attached, which 

 should remain uncovered. Do not tie it so tightly as to 

 - cut into the bark, but so as to exert upon it a moderate 

 pressure. The bud should always be put in the north 

 side of the stock, when practicable, and when not, a little 

 paper cap may be tied to the stock projecting over the 

 bud, so as to admit the light, but exclude the direct rays 

 of the sun. The success of the operation depends on its 

 being performed rapidly, and with fresh, healthy buds ; 

 clean, smooth cuts; the bark rising cleanly and freely 

 from the wood; the exact fit of the bud to the incision, 

 and close, secure tying, to exclude the air and water. If 

 the operation is performed in moist weather, and the bark 

 of the bud be joined closely to the wood of the stock, suc- 

 cess is almost certain. If the stocks are in a proper state, 

 the upper edges only of the slit need be raised with the 

 haft, and the bud being gently pushed to its place, will 

 raise the bark smoothly before it, and be more firm than 

 if the bark had been entirely raised with the haft. 



