36 



PRODUCTIVE FARMING 





handles. The budding is done immediately. One bud from 

 the budding stick is inserted just under the bark of the Httle 

 seedling tree a few inches above the ground. How to insert 

 the bud will be described under ''Budding Peaches.'' 



The little seedling is not disturbed in this method of 

 propagating apple trees. The roots are left growing in the 

 soil. The new bud becomes united to the surrounding 

 tissues that fall. All the top above the bud is pruned away 

 (Fig. 17) just as soon as the new bud 

 starts growth in spring, and all the 

 natural buds of the seedling stock are 

 rubbed off. Then the new bud makes 

 a vigorous growth and is soon devel- 

 oped into the new tree top. 



Another method is to insert the 

 buds of the desired varieties in the 

 little seedling trees the following 

 spring. In this case the scions are 

 taken when dormant and stored in a 

 cold cellar until about June. This 

 method is quite common in some sec- 

 tions, particularly where the hot, dry 

 weather of August would be injurious. 

 After one season's growth the 

 most vigorous budded or root-grafted 

 trees are ready to transplant to the 

 orchard. They are then called one- 

 year old trees. Many apple growers prefer to leave them 

 in the nursery one more year, and always select two- 

 year-old trees for the setting out of new apple orchards. 

 Budding Peaches and Plums. — Improved varieties of 

 peaches and plums are propagated by budding. 



Stocks for this purpose are usually started from pits of 

 native or seedling peaches and plums. Special kinds of stocks, 

 however, are desired for a few particular varieties of plums. 



Fig. 17.— Method of 

 pruning a budded tree 

 after the new shoot starts. 



