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the rootstock. Only the upper half is cut away; the lower end of the imaginary chip is left on the stem. The prepared chip with the bud, from the cultivar to be propagated, is inserted, right side up, under the lower half of the slice that remains attached to the rootstock. The chip-bud is firmly tied to the stock with a plastic strip. The bud is completely covered so that it is impossible for the chip-bud to dry out. In Japan, however, the bud is left to stick out of the plastic, which may be less problematic because the weather is mild and humid at the time of propagation in this country. After four to six weeks the chip has grown to the stock and the plastic should be carefully removed. Late in the following winter the stock is pruned about 10 cm above the chipbud, leaving some buds of the stock plant above it. In late spring, after the stock and bud are growing, the stock is pruned away another time just above the cultivar sprout.
Figure 34 Chip-budding.