PROPAGATION 



77 



for he can now obtain prepared trees so readily and 

 cheaply from nurserymen, who propagate them by the 

 thousand, that it is not at all worth his while to attempt 

 their propagation himself. 



Apple trees are propagated either by budding or 

 grafting. The first mentioned process is performed 

 during July and August, and .grafting is done in the 

 month of March. 



Budding consists in removing a bud from one tree 

 and inserting it under the bark of the stock or branch of 

 another tree. This work is done in the months of July 

 and August, because the bark is during that time more 

 easily raised, and a union more easily effected between 

 the cambium (an inner growing layer) of both bud and 

 stock. The buds inserted are taken from the current 

 year's shoots, choosing shoots that are firm and short- 

 jointed. After having removed a shoot, say nine or ten 

 inches long, and cut the leaves to half their lengths, 

 next proceed to cut out a bud. This is done by in- 

 serting a knife below the bud at a distance of about half 

 an inch, and then drawing it upwards behind the bud, 

 emerging again about half an inch above the bud. The 

 cut must, of course, turn inwards that is to say, to- 

 wards the centre of the shoot. When removed, the 

 bud therefore will be about an inch long, with the 

 "eye" in the centre, and with a certain amount of 

 wood attached to it behind. This should be removed, 

 and the best way to do it is to insert the point of 

 one's knife just underneath, so as slightly to raise the 

 wood. Then, with the blade of the knife and one's 

 thumb above, it can easily be removed with a slight 

 jerk. Take great care that the root of the bud is not 

 removed also. The stock to be budded should have a 

 T-shaped incision made in the bark. With the ivory 

 handle, which a proper budding knife will have, raise 

 the bark on either side of the longitudinal slit, com- 



