VIII 



PROPAGATION 



123 



will catch and hold to one another wherever laid 

 without tying. 



The principal time for budding is the latter part of 

 July and the whole month of August. I have success- 

 fully budded Roses out of doors in each of the six 

 months commencing with May and ending with 

 October, and there would not be much difficulty in 

 finding stocks in the proper condition in June and 

 September, but to get buds in the right state would 

 then be more difficult. Manetti stocks may be well 

 budded with hardy H.P.s in September; and a com- 

 mencement should be made with the Teas first of all if 

 possible. This is not only because the inserted Tea bud 

 will thereby become better ripened and more able * to 

 withstand the winter, but also because these buds, in 

 many of the varieties, are difficult to procure, and it is 

 good policy to begin early, and use them whenever they 

 can be got. 



I have used no illustrations to aid the description of 

 the process, because they have always seemed to me 

 unsatisfactory ; for all manual operations example is far 

 better than precept, and I would strongly recommend 

 the seeing it done by an old hand, even if only once, 

 in preference to relying upon descriptions or figures 

 alone. It is best for an amateur to learn of an amateur, 

 provided of course the teacher be experienced and 

 trustworthy ; for, without throwing any discredit upon 

 the wonderfully clever and rapid performances of pro- 

 fessional budders, it is plain that an amateur works 

 upon rather different lines. He has not such a wealth 

 of " stuff" to fall back on, either of buds or stocks, and 

 having more time can afford to be more careful and 

 particular about every stage of the operation. 



No tools are required beyond a budding knife. It is 



