48 THE AMERICAN PEACH ORCHARD 



growth, usually 12 to 18 inches in length and hav- 

 ing at the base the diameter of a very small lead 

 pencil. From this the blades of the leaves are 

 clipped immediately when the stick is taken from 

 the parent tree. The petioles of the stems of the 

 leaves are left to serve a very useful purpose in 

 setting the buds. 



The budder kneels or sits beside the row of stocks 

 and begins his work by cutting a T-shaped incision 

 through the bark of the stock, preferably on the 

 shady north side and as near the surface of the 

 ground as he can conveniently work. If the stock 

 is in proper condition, the two lips of this incision 

 peel up smoothly from the wood beneath, so as to 

 allow the easy insertion of the bud. The propagator 

 then cuts a single bud from his budding stick. This 

 little bud has attached to it a shield-shaped portion 

 of bark and the stem or petiole of the leaf. The 

 shield is slipped down into the T-shaped opening 

 made upon the stock and the budder slides along 

 to the next tree, leaving the work to be finished 

 by the boy already mentioned, who follows after 

 and ties the bud securely in with a strip of raffia. 



These ties must be examined from time to time 

 and should be removed as soon as the buds "take." 

 This will usually be in one or two weeks. If the 

 ties are not removed within a month, they will be- 

 gin to choke the stocks, which continue to expand 

 rapidly in diameter at this season. The tie is cut 

 by running a sharp knife longitudinally up the stem 

 of the stock on the side opposite to the bud. 



These buds should grow fast to the stocks within 

 two or four weeks after setting, but under proper 

 conditions will remain dormant through the first 

 winter. They should start into vigorous growth the 

 following spring. As soon as growth is assured. 



