BUDDL\G FRUIT TREES. 



313 



Northern Spies. I have grafted part of 

 these this year with scions from a 

 King apple tree ; I have grafted the 

 other with scions from nursery trees which 

 ten years ago were taken from that same 

 apple tree, for the purpose of finding out 

 whether in the ten intervening years there 

 has been deterioration. I believe, as a mat- 

 ter of theory, that it is the best for the nur- 

 serymen every year to go back to his bear- 

 ing tree, but I do not think you can do it; 

 it is only in rare cases and in special varie- 

 ties that you can do that, and just how long 

 these nursery trees can be propagated with- 

 out deteriorating I do not know and no man 

 knows. I believe one reason why the 

 Crawford peach is running out is because 

 we are propagating from so many "different 

 strains of it ; but whether by reason of a 

 strain having been introduced that chanced 



to deteriorate in the nursery row, I cannot 

 say. My own opinion is that we ought to 

 cry to renew back from the original tree as 

 often as we can, and, when the opportunity 

 arises, once in five years, or once in ten ; and 

 I believe the oftener we can renew, the safer 

 we are, without saying that we are not safe 

 if we do not renew. I know, however, that 

 there is such a thing as individuality in a 

 tree, and I am perfectly sure that a great 

 deal of individuality passes over. At pres- 

 ent we are thinning out the cattle in the 

 dairy herd by means of the Babcock test ; 

 we are finding that many cows never pai.l 

 for their board, and are thinning out these 

 cows all the time. I wish we could apply 

 a Babcock test to our orchards by means of 

 which we could eliminate those trees that do 

 not pay their board, or at least that we never 

 should propagate from those types of trees. 



BUDDING FBUIT TEEES 



IN Ontario budding is usually performed 

 in the months of July, August and 

 September, the later date being for 

 young trees which have a long season of 

 growth ; such as peach trees in their first 

 year from the seed. The essential condi- 

 tions are, (i) that the bark can be raised 

 easily, and (2) that the growth of the sea- 

 son is so nearly completed that the new layer 

 of wood inside the bark has acquired some 

 consistency, and has ceased to be thin and 

 watery. It is this new wood which, in iti 

 ripening process, is to grow the bud fast to 

 the young tree ; therefore, the importance of 

 its being in the right condition. This may 

 be known by the young tree beginning tD 

 form its terminal buds, in completing the 

 season's growth. 



The buds to be put in are obtained from 

 shoots of the current year's growth, and 



they are usually more perfect if grown in 

 full sunshine. As soon as cut, the leaves 

 are to be removed — all but about a third of 

 an inch of the footstalk, which is left to hold 

 the bud by when putting it in place — and 

 three inches or so of the immature point of 

 the shoot is rejected, as are also two or three 

 of the lower and imperfect buds. A pre- 

 pared " stick of buds " (as it is termed) is 

 shown at a in Fig. 2633. Several 

 of these " bud sticks " may be pre- 

 pared at one time, if desired, but 

 they must be kept in a damp cloth un- 

 til nsed, and on no account allowed to be- 

 come wilted. Scions for grafting, being 

 fully ripened wood, will not be seriously 

 hurt by a slight wilting, but this would ruin 

 buds. When properly managed, by being 

 wrapped in damp moss (sphagnum) and in- 

 closed in waterproof paper, these " bud 



