444 THE NURSERY. [July. 
When the stocks are from about half an inch, or a little less, to 
an inch or more in diameter in the places where the buds are to be 
inserted, thej are then of a proper size for working. 
In order to perform the operation you must be provided with a 
neat sharp budding-knife, having a flat thin haft to open the bark 
of the stock for the admission of the bud, and, likewise, with a 
quantity of new bass-strings, which is certainly the best of all 
bandages, or if such cannot be obtained, some soft woollen yarn to 
tie round it when inserted. 
Observe that the head of the stock is not to be cut oflf as in graft- 
ing; that the bud is to be inserted into the side, and the head 
suffered to remain until the spring following, when it is to be cut 
off" above the bud, as directed in page 258. 
Methods of Budding or Inoculating, 
1. Having your cuttings, knife, and bandages ready, fix upon a 
smooth part on the side of the stock at whatever height you intend 
to bud it; with your knife make a horizontal cut across the bark of 
the stock quite through to the firm wood; then from the middle of 
this cut make a slit downwards, perpendicularly, about an inch and 
a half long, going also quite through to the wood, so that the two 
cuts together may be in the form of the letter T; then with the 
point of your knife raise the bark a little at the angles formed by 
the two cuts, in order to make room for the flat part of the haft to 
enter and raise the bark. 
This done, proceed with all expedition to take off" a bud, having 
immediately previous to the commencement cut oft" all the leaves, 
leaving about an inch of the footstalk to each bud, and holding the 
cutting in one hand, with the thickest end outward; then enter the 
knife about half an inch, or rather more, below a bud, cutting nearly 
half way into the wood of the shoot, continuing it with one clean 
slanting cut about as much more above the bud, so deep as to take 
oft" part of the wood along with it, the whole from an inch and a 
quarter to an inch and a half long; directly take out the woody part 
remaining in the bud, which is easily done by placing the point of 
the knife between the bark and wood, at either end, but the upper 
is the more preferable, and with the assistance of the thumb, pull 
off' the wood from the bark, which ought, if in good condition, to 
part freely; tlien quickly examine the inside, to see if the root of 
the bud be left, and if there appears a small hole, the rudiment of 
the young tree is gone with the wood, the bud is rendered useless, 
and another must be prepared; but if there be no hole, the bud is 
good; then place the footstalk or back part of the bud between your 
lips, and with the flat haft of the knife, separate the bark from the 
stock on each side of the perpendicular cut, clear to the wood, for 
the admission of the bud, which, directly slip down close between 
the wood and bark, till the whole is inserted to within the eighth of 
an inch; let this part be cut through into the first transverse inci- 
sion made in the stalk, and the bud will fall neatly into its placej 
