Propagation of Peach Trees 59 



might cause the bark to "set" under some conditions if 

 done too long before the budding. 



It is very important that the buds be kept in a perfectly 

 fresh condition after the sticks are taken from the trees. 

 The supply which the budder carries with him is usually 

 kept in a moistened piece of burlap slung across the back or 

 in a bag of some kind where the sticks can be reached con- 

 veniently, but only one is carried in the hand at a time, 

 unless the varying size of the stocks makes it desirable to 

 have in hand buds bearing shields of bark of sizes to corre- 

 spond with the stocks. Then a budder may carry in his 

 hand at the same time several bud sticks of different sizes. 



The skill of budders varies greatly, as is often evident from 

 the varying percentages of failure which appear in rows of 

 stocks budded by different men; their deftness also varies 

 greatly. A rapid budder with a helper to tie will put in 

 2500 to 3000 buds in a day, occasionally considerably more, 

 but such budders are quite exceptional. 



In ten to fourteen days after the budding is done, the bud 

 will have "taken," that is it will have united with the stock 

 if it is to grow, or it will have become dry if it fails to "take." 

 At the end of this period (ten to fourteen days after budding), 

 the string is cut by passing a sharp knife over it on the side 

 opposite the bud. This is to prevent girdling the stock and 

 strangling the bud; but the bud should remain dormant 

 until the next spring, at least when the budding is done 

 during the period mentioned above. 



In some sections, particularly in the South where the 

 growing season is very long, "June" or "summer" budding 

 is practiced to some extent. The stocks in those regions 

 where the season of growth begins early attain a sufiScient 

 size to bud as early as June. Well-matured buds of the 



