BUDDING. 
179 
admit the passing of the ligature between and above both. This completed, detach 
a bud, not cutting, as directed, to the depth of half the wood, but by passing the 
knife from an inch or more below the eye to half an inch above it, just so deep as 
to insure the raising of so much of the wood, particularly under the eye, as shall 
cause that part to be at least level with, if not rather prominent, above the parts 
above and below it. Then — always bearing in mind the necessity of a complete con- 
tact of the part below the eye, and the wood of the stock — pare away the lower 
edges of the shield, removing any protruding wood at either extremities, and, indeed, 
everywhere else, excepting that portion of it which attaches to the eye, about its 
base. In budding roses, it is prudent to detach the whole of the leaf from its 
stalk, because the shield and bud being small, and little juicy, a transpiring 
surface, as is that of the leaf, may carry off moisture too rapidly ; but with larger 
and more juicy subjects, like those of the pear, apple, and cherry, practical men 
leave one-third of the leaf. 
The bud being ready, it is to be slipped tenderly into the stock, guiding, and 
easing its course by the finger, and the haft of the knife, so that it slide centrally 
under the lips of the long cut, and be equally lapped over and guarded by them . 
The shield is to be passed down till the eye itself be below the cross cut, and then, 
holding it at the stalk, the little projecting bit of bark at the upper part is to be 
cut quite level across, and made to rest accurately against the edge of the rind of 
the stock ; the bark of the scion and that of the stock thus touching each other. 
As it is of great consequence that the bud with its bark pass glibly down the slit 
rind of the stock, many persons moisten its inner surface, by drawing it over their 
tongue, and as, in fact, the first principle of success is pressure, like that of the 
moistened leather of a boy's sucker, this application of saliva will be of some 
service. 
As to the ligature, we know of nothing better, upon the whole, than a soft, but 
very strong and pliable strip of wetted garden-mat. Such a strip, one quarter of 
an inch wide, being ready, and the bud duly inserted, the bark at the top of the 
slit should be closely pressed against and over the bud, just where the two edges 
join ; and then, holding the tyer by its two ends,-— the loop being under the stock 
and exactly below the bud, — bring it up towards the edges of the slit, so as to grasp 
and draw them towards each other, thus closing in the bud and binding it down. 
Cross the strip, pull firmly right and left, carry the ends towards the back, lacing 
and crossing it at every movement till it pass below the slit ; then work upwards, 
and tie in front. Three precautions are required : first, to see that the strip entirely 
covers the cross cut, and a little space above it ; then, that the eye be not bound 
down, but have freedom to swell ; and, lastly, that the pressure be firm and equal 
from top to bottom, sufficiently so to make every part of the shield touch the 
sap-wood of the stock without wounding the tissues or forcing juice to ooze 
from them. 
If a bud so prepared and inserted fail, there must be some error in judging 
