'162 



The Method of Re-huading Trees. — Old Mediterranean Sweets are 

 :among the most difficult of citrus tiees to re-bud, and very poor re- 

 sults will be obtained if thev are handled by ordinary methods. Mr. 

 B. L. Koethen and Mr. 0. D. Wilheit, of Riverside, have been, 

 very successful in buddinj3^-over all kinds of old citrus trees, including 

 Mediterranean Sweets. They trim out all branches that are not used 

 to insert buds into, and then thin out the remaining branches above 

 •where the buds are inserted. This is done earl}^ in the spring, and at 

 the time of budding. The removal of surplus limbs directs' the entire 

 flow of sap into the branches containing the buds, which results in 

 their healing-over quickly and becoming well united. Up:)n the re- 

 moval of the tops of the trees, the buds start at once. All saw cuts 

 are covered with some material that will exclude the air, usually 

 grafting wax, though Mr. Koethen has experimented with thin putty 

 and finds it much cheaper, more durable, and not injurious to the tree. 

 After the tops are removed, the trees should be whitewashed to prevent 

 bunburn. 



Value of " Cured" Buds. — The best success comes from using " cured" 

 buds these are buds that have been cut from the tree and kept in damp 

 sand or moss for a few weeks before using. When treated in this way 

 they become tougher, and when inserted into a tree that has freely- 

 flowing sap they absorb it more readily. When buds are well cured, 

 and not allowed to become either too wet or too dry, they are not easily 

 injured in handling. The delicate germ is very brittle when the scion 

 IS first cut from the tree, and the slightest touch will sometimes destro}' it. 



Placing the Bud. — The incision which is to receive the bud is made 

 by running the knife down the side of the branch or trunk of the tree. 

 The cross cut is made at the lower end of the incision instead of at 

 the top, as is the usual method, and slants upward. By giving the 

 knife a slight twist before removing it from the last cut, the two 

 corners are turned out, which, with the upward slant, forms an open- 

 ing, into which the bud slips easily. Narrow strips of waxed cloth are 

 then wrapped around the limb, completely covering the inserted bud 

 and the incisions. The insertion of the buds from below gives better 

 protection from rain and dew. 



When to remove the Bands. — These waxed bands are allowed to re- 

 main on the buds for from four to six weeks, according to the weather. 

 During such a season as the spring of 1901, which was cool and damp, 

 citrus trees make very little growth. Under these circumstances the 

 waxed bands should remain a longer time. The bands were removed 

 from the buds after four weeks (the usual period) in a number of cases 

 in the Pomona Yalley in 1901, and they generally died, but in the same 

 year when the bands were allowed to remain on the buds for six weeks 

 the result was satisfactory. 



Removal of the Tops. — There are three usual methods of removing 

 the tops after budding: (1) the removal of the entire top at the time 

 of taking the bands from the buds; (2) the removal of all branches 

 but one, which is left to draw sap : and (3) the girdling of the limbs 

 above the buds while still retaining the entire top for one year. 



When the first method is practised and proper protection is given 

 to the buds and young top during the first year, better results seem to 

 be obtained than by any other way. The new top receives the entire 



