1885.] BUDDING. 325 



stocks (which is generally done with the spade), great care should 

 be taken to press the earth very firmly against them. A very 

 .slight shortening in of the top, as also the tap root, is generally 

 practised, liicli black loam is not the best ground for nursery 

 stock, and, on the other hand, thin and soggy clay land is alike 

 unsuited for the growth of trees. The latter, however, can be made 

 available by thorough underdraining and manuring. The very Ijest 

 soil is a friable loam, largely of clay, naturally dry or well under- 

 drained, and placed in good heart by liberal applications of well- 

 decomposed barnyard manure. If the enriching matter can be 

 applied a year or two before planting the stocks, so much the 

 better. 



Time of Budding. — Stocks are generally budded in the following 

 order : apple, j)6ar, peach, plum, cherry. In the Miami Valley, 

 beginning with apple about first to tenth of July, we follow im- 

 mediately with the pear, then the peach about August 1st, and 

 plums and cherries from August 15th to September 15th, accord- 

 ing to season. Successful union of the bud with the stock 

 depends, principally, upon the condition of the sap at budding 

 time. Should you find the sap thin and watery, as will sometimes 

 liappen in rainy seasons, better wait a week or ten days, until tlie 

 sap or inner layer of the bark becomes somewhat thicker. A care- 

 ful watching of the stocks will readily determine the proper time 

 for the work. Eemoving the wood from the bud is now generally 

 practised, in all except cherries, though some nurserymcjn cling to 

 shield budding throughout. The skill and deftness of the Ijudder 

 has much to do with the success of the operation, never forgetting 

 that tying in the bud closely and neatly is of equal importance. 

 The bud should be cut long enough, particularly above the eye (an 

 inch at least), and slipped into position with as little injury to the 

 inner bark of the stock as possible. Bass bark, matting, and like 

 materials, are generally used for tying. Of late years we have 

 used cotton warp, and find it preferable to all other ties, particularly 

 in cherries ; it draws the bud firmly and snugly into position and 

 retains it securely, without any danger of becoming loose. In 

 cutting off the stocks the following spring, the general practice is to 

 cut down at once to the proper point (say about an inch above 

 the eye of the bud), and make no further cutting, except to keep 

 down the suckers- from the seedling stocks. In event of dry 

 weather and chilling winds, after thus cutting off the stocks, the 

 sap may not rise in its full strength to the top of the stock, and in 

 this way the bud be weakened. A better plan seems to be to use a 

 pair of long-handled clippers or shears, with short, hooked jaws, and 

 cut off tlie stocks about 6 inches above the bud. 



