204 



THE ART OF 



would be an obstacle to the insertion of the bud under the 

 bark of the stock. The stock when newly planted bears two 

 or three branches at the top, the rest having been removed (see 

 p. 203). They are budded in the first year as soon as they have 

 grown sufficiently thick and woody. When the sap is abating 

 and the green tinge of the outer bark at the heel of the branch 

 becomes white when cut, no time should be lost, as the sap is 

 passing away. It is better not to head down the dog-briar 

 before grafting. The bud should be inserted on the branch 

 of the dog-briar close to its junction with the stem. It is 

 bandaged with two or three woollen threads, and later on in- 

 spected to see that the bandages have not become too tight. 

 Unskilful operators are known by the number of branches 

 which break a week after budding, in consequence of the 

 transverse incision of the T having been made too deep. This 

 fracture either causes the bud to shoot at once or else kills 

 it. To avoid this evil, some English florists merely make a 

 longitudinal incision, and do not complete the T by the 

 transverse one. This, however, renders the insertion of the 

 bud somewhat more difficult. Budding with a dormant bud 

 is performed in July and August : with a pushing bud in May 

 and June. It is not, however, rare to find early buds which 

 do not develope until the following year, and late ones which 

 break immediately. "When a dormant bud is employed, the 

 branches of the dog-briar are bent and fastened to the stem. 

 They may also be raised and fastened over-head like a garland. 

 The buds will sometimes break on the bent branches, 

 then these branches should be headed down when the 

 graft shall have grown at least four inches. If it is 

 desired that the bud should remain dormant, the stem 

 and roots should be only moc'erately dis-budded and dis- 

 branched, so that the sap may not concentrate its strength at 

 the top of the stack, and either cause the bud to break or else 



