10 Oct., 19x1.] 



Propagation of Fruit Trees. 



f6i 



Only in rare instances should such shoots be removed before the dis- 

 budding season, i.e. from deciduous fruiting trees. These shoots carry off. 

 to a certain extent, the ascending sap and help to pre\-ent the buds from 

 making a short summer's growth. Pear buds are very apt to start a growth 

 soon after unity takes place; releasing the binding, when safe to do .so, 

 and allowing a free flow of sap to the higher parts of the stock will over- 

 come this somewhat. Removing the thin slice of wood from cut buds 

 before inserting is an unnecessary o])eration, /.(-. if the buds are cut 

 properly. 



If the worked stocks suffer from the want of moisture, even after unitv 

 has taken place, those buds with the wood removed and inserted during 

 hot or dry weather are much more liable to die out than those where the 

 wcx)d has been left in. When remo\-ing the wood, there is always a risk 

 of injury to the bud ; even if injured, unity may take place, only the bud 

 and that portion encircling it dying. The writer has tested both methods 

 side by side and under same conditions. The results _ 

 have been always in favour of leaving the wood. 



The manner in which this slice of wood is removed 

 is by inserting the [)oint of the blade beneath the end 

 of the wood and giving a sharp upward jerk. The 

 operation requires practice and care in .seeing that the 

 leaf trace bundle is left behind, filling up the hollow at 

 the base or heart of the bud. Bv starting the removal 

 from the ui:)per end, there is a greater chance of leaving 

 this bundle intact. Fig. 35(2 shows the wood removed 

 from bud with leaf trace bundle left behind {:Sy')- leav- 

 ing an empty cavity at the ba-se or heart of liud. Fig. 

 Tf^c is the bud with the slice of wood left m. Buds that 

 are not th';roughlv matured are easily iTijured by this 

 operation. 



Tre.'Vtment of Budded Stocks. 

 During the winter or early spring following the 

 budding season, it is all important, if the propagat(.r 

 wishes to produce a tree from the inserted buds which 

 have united with the stocks, to head the latter back 

 1" till- !iud. The operator should provide himself with 

 a suitable knife (see page 338). a whetstone, and a leather 

 legging. There is always a risk when "cutting off,'' as 

 this heading back is called, of gashing the leg below neglecting the 

 thi' kncf. The legging |)r(;tects the leg and al.so 

 provides a strop for keeping a keen edge ujjon 

 the knife. Place the side of the f<K>t, not the 

 ihi- liiitt and l.flow the insrrtrd buil, care bcin: 

 the 1. liter is not iiijun'il whilst doing so. (It the 

 there is a risk of causing iiijurx to thr bark (;f 

 Ix* operated upon. V.\<-\\ the foot is not necessary when cutting off small 

 stocks). Having |)laced the loot into position, take hold of the top of 

 the stock with one hand, and with the other place the blade of the knife 

 upon the opjjosite siilc of the st(>-k to that of the bud and slightly l>elow 

 it. Then mak<- a qniek rlean upward cut. at \\v same time gi\ing the 

 stock ,1 slight hi-iid towards the body; the 1 ui should be sloping and linish 

 tSi slightK ahow thf bud. Moth actions should in- iirrbirm.d .it the sam..- 



Tf^. RESULT OF 



r "DING. 



toe, against 



taken that 



toe is useil 



the stock to 



