80 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE. 
pendicular slit downward, quite through the bark, an incn 
or a little more in length. Make a cross cut at the top o 
this slit, quite through to the wood, a little slanting down¬ 
ward. Next raise the bark on each side of the slit, from 
top to bottom, taking care not to injure the sap-wood. 
Proceed then quickly to take off a bud. This is done by 
entering the knife about half an inch below the bud, quite 
through the bark, and separating the bark from the wood, 
to the same distance above the eye ; always leaving a very 
thin slip of wood, about one third the length of the bud. 
This thin slip of wood occupies the middle section of its 
length. The bud is to be immediately inserted in the stock 
to the bottom of the slit, and between the bark and the 
wood; the top of the bud being squared even with the 
cross cut, every part, except the eye, is firmly bound, and 
covered with baize matting. 
69. When the season is far advanced, and the sap flows 
less freely, it is best to take out the whole of the wood, 
leaving always the root of the bud. The string is usually 
taken off in about ten days. In the succeeding spring, 
when the frost is out of the ground, and the buds begin to 
swell, cut off the stock, about a quarter of an inch above 
the bud, sloping downward on the opposite side. 
QUESTIONS. 
1. What is inoculation ? 
2. On what is it usually practised, and when ? 
3. How is the operation performed ? 
4. When is it best to take all the wood from the bud ? 
5. When is the string to be taken off? 
6. When and how is the stock to be cut off 1 
