GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



159 



grafted on a stem previously amputated, should be disbudded 

 between the graft and the ground, both on the stem and on 

 the grafted branches. Here and there a few small shoots may- 

 be left to draw sap to the graft or to weak parts. At all 

 seasons, suckers and subterranean shoots, which would, 

 impoverish the graft, should be rigorously extirpated. In 

 disbudding around the graft, very great care should be taken 

 not to touch the buds of the graft, either with the hand or 

 with any tool. 



Destruction of Insects. 

 "While the process of disbudding is going on, a sharp 

 look-out should be kept after insects, which, moreover, 

 require attention at all seasons, as they are a perma- 

 nent pest. They are to be met with inside of rolled-up 

 leaves, in chinks of cuts, under bandages, and on the stakes. 

 They chiefly attack the buds of the graft. If they are allowed 

 to have their own way, so much the worse for the young graft. 

 Eepeated inspections should be made at various hours, no 

 matter what the weather may be. These pests are most 

 active in spring. Some are most destructive during rain ; 

 others in time of great heat ; some in the morning, others in 

 the evening, and others, again, at fall noon. Caterpillars, 

 larvse of various kinds, aphides, weevils, spiders, ants, snails, 

 slugs, flies, butterflies, cockchafers, &c, should be mercilessly 

 crushed. The Pear-tree bug, gall-flies, and aphides are 

 destroyed by waterings of soap-suds or tobacco-water, or 

 by applying insecticide powder; and the woolly bug by 

 rubbing the infected parts with oil, or whitewashing them 

 with lime. Such preparations as the last-named should be 

 applied to the scion before it forms buds, or when it is suffi- 

 ciently developed. AVhenthe sap begins to flow, it will be too 

 soon or too late. We have before mentioned that the soaking 

 stakes, frames, straw-mats, nets, &c, in a solution of 



