12 BUDDING THE PECAN. 



during the season preceding the operation of budding are recommended 

 for use. The dormant buds (PL I, fig. 1, A) during the month of June 

 are ready to burst into active growth when given the slightest en- 

 couragement. Moreover, they can be very easily removed from the 

 bud stick, together with a section of thick, solid bark. The bark on 

 the old wood can be handled without being injured in any way, and it 

 is in every particular splendidly adapted for successful work. After 

 the union has taken place and the stocks are cut back, the bud will 

 give a stronger growth and attain a greater length than growths from 

 the current season's buds. In using buds from the current season's 

 wood (PL I, fig. 1. B) many difliculties will be encountered, and the 

 results will be found disappointing. Until the season is pretty well 

 advanced the current year's bark is very thin and more or less succu- 

 lent, and it can not be removed from the wood without being bruised. 

 Sometimes, even when the greatest care is exercised by the operator, 

 it will split lengthwise and be rendered useless. Again, especially up 

 to the latter part of July, the cuticle is very apt to peel, and where it 

 does stay on it is almost certain to be bruised in the operation of 

 tying. Another serious objection is the presence of the leaf stalk. 

 This, shortly after the bud is inserted, will shrivel up and fall, or it 

 can easily be detached; but the scar left, which in most cases is a 

 large one, is, it is thought, the channel through which a large part of 

 the sap of the bark is lost before it has had an opportunity to unite 

 with the cambium of the stock. 



LOCATION OF THE BUDS. 



It is important that the position which the dormant buds occupy on 

 the branches be accurately understood, so that the proper ones may 

 be selected for the work of budding. They are to be found on the 

 branches made the year preceding that in which it is desired to insert 

 the buds. The pecan trees which have been examined in the vicinity 

 of Washington show exceedingly few growths from terminal buds. 

 The growth of a season starts from one of the large axillary ))uds 

 near the apex of the preceding year's growth (PL 1, fig. 2, A). Two 

 or more of these buds may produce growths, but commonl}^ only one. 

 In fruiting branches the nut cluster takes the place of the terminal 

 bud on the young wood, as seen in PL II, fig. 1. The strong shoots 

 from these axillary buds when 1 year old are the ones which give 

 good material for budding. Each bud will be found immediately 

 above a leaf scar of the preceding season (PL I, fig. 1, A). Those 

 buds which are nearest the base of the shoot are the smallest and 

 firmest; consequently they are the best fitted for the work. Regard- 

 ing the period during which buds retain their power of bursting into 

 active growth, PI. II, fig. 2, shows a 7-year-old branch of an allied 

 species of hickory {'Hicoria laciniosa) with three small growths from 



