"This is the manner of inserting the bud: first make a T-shaped cut in
the bark of the stock. This cut should be made on the north side of the
little tree, because it will thus be more sheltered from the sun's rays.
The cut should not be far from the ground on the main trunk, although it
may be at the base of strong shoots. But make it in the former position
for these yearlings. Then loosen the bark with the flat handle of a
regular budding knife. Not many boys and girls own such knives. Some of
you have scalpels. The handles of these are flat enough to use. Again,
you could easily whittle a piece of wood thin and flat enough for this
work.

"The next question is how to sever a bud from its parent shoot. Suppose
you have chosen a nice full bud. About a quarter of an inch below the
base of the bud start cutting into the wood. Run the knife up to about
one quarter of an inch above the bud. Do not cut out through to the
surface, but rather from the upper surface cut the bark loose and peel
this carefully down until you can see the under surface of the bud. You
still have the wood attached to the twig at its upper edge. If as you
look at the under surface of the bud you see that it is hollow, throw
the whole thing away. If it has fibres then it is all right. The proper
layer is left to reunite with the stock. Now the bud and peeled-off bark
may be inserted in the T-shaped slip. Bind the bud in place with raffia.
Do this raffia bandaging both above and below the slit.

"In about ten days the bandage may come off, for the knitting of fibres
is well under way. Now the top of the little tree should be cut right
back to about two inches above the bud, because you wish all the growth
to go to the bud. This is the part of promise to the tree. All its hope
lies in this new bud.