GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



Ill 



is likely to become loose ; then the application of mastic would 

 serve to keep it in position, and preserve the graft from the 

 action of the atmosphere. When the vine is shield-budded, 

 soil should be heaped up about the stock. The operation 

 should be performed about the end of July, and the soil kept 

 about the graft for a fortnight. "We have known Mr. J. 

 Gagnerot, of Beaune, to operate in this way with complete- 

 success since 1865. 



Shield'hudding in Nurseries. 



In large establishments, shield-budding is a matter which 

 requires continued attention. It is necessary to know when 

 to seize the moment favourable for grafting each species, and 

 for operating in different parts of the grounds, as well as to 

 keep an eye on the scion-branches of rare kinds, in order to 

 utilise them at the proper time. Great heats accelerate or retard 

 the flow of the sap, and rain incommodes the workmen; 

 advantage must therefore be taken of favourable days to have 

 the work carried on rapidly. Generally it is performed by 

 two men, a grafter and a bandager. Besides these, a workman 

 goes on in advance, clearing and preparing the stocks. The 

 principal prepares the scions, classifies them, does the number- 

 ing, and enters the work in the register of the establishment. 

 A skilful grafter can keep two bandager s busy, but it is better 

 that he should do the bandaging himself, for two bandager3 

 are likely to pass over some of the buds without securing them, 

 and in that case of course they are lost. It is also a good 

 plan never to leave a row of subjects just budded without 

 glancing over them to ascertain that they are all budded and 

 properly bandaged. A hundred bud-grafts per hour is the 

 average work of a good grafter. Of course with rose-trees, 

 apricots, or chestnuts, the scions of which are spiny, or 

 angular, or highly-developed, progress is not so rapid as with 



