Propagation of Peach Trees 61 



The budding was done about the middle of the preceding 

 June. 



Some nurserymen in removing the seedling stock above 

 the bud, make two cuttings — the first some 3 or 4 inches 

 above the bud at the time growth is starting in the spring ; 

 and the second, after the bud has grown a few inches. The 

 second cut removes the stub close to the bud. Less danger 

 of the bud drying out is claimed for this method. The same 

 thing is accomplished by cutting the stock partially off and 

 lopping it over for a time and later removing it entirely. 



In nursery practice it frequently happens that the stocks 

 prior to budding do not grow uniformly in size so that it 

 becomes necessary to bud over a block a second time in 

 order to "work" the stocks that were not large enough at 

 first. The stocks on which the buds have failed to take 

 are rebudded at the time the strings are cut. 



Growing the trees from the hud. 



The growing of the trees in the nursery is primarily a 

 matter of good culture. A fairly rapid growth is essential 

 to the production of high-grade trees. As in the case of 

 almost any crop where similar ends are in view, the soil 

 must be maintained in a fertile condition, and very frequent 

 tillage, especially during the early part of the season, is 

 necessary. If the growth which the trees are making justi- 

 fies it, tillage operations can be reduced somewhat toward 

 the close of the season. The trees must be so managed in 

 this respect that they will ripen well for fall digging. 



However, certain other details are necessary in order to 

 produce high-grade trees. As the bud on each stock starts 

 into growth, there develops from it a single shoot which in 

 turn becomes the leader or central axis of the tree. By the 



