154 MANAGEMENT OF NURSERIES. 



prove successful, it must be done when the bark of the stock 

 lifts freely from the wood, and also when the inserted buds 

 have been sufficiently matured. The cherry, in general, re- 

 quires budding on the Mazzard stock, about midsummer; but 

 sometimes the growth of the stock continues so late that it 

 may be done near the close. The Mahaleb continues to grow, 

 later, and the budding may be correspondingly deferred. On 

 the common stock the plum requires early budding; the wild 

 or Canada plum, used for dwarfing, continues to grow much 

 later. The operation may be performed on the apple at any 

 time between the maturity of the inserted buds and the de- 

 crease in the growth of the stocks. The same remark will 

 apply to the pear on pear stocks ; as the latter is frequently 

 struck with leaf-blight, which at once checks growth, it is 

 safest to bud the standard pear only. The peach and the 

 quince are worked from the middle to the close of summer and 

 the beginning of autumn. As the removal of leaves from a 

 tree in full growth always checks it, the stocks should have 

 the side-shoots cut away to facilitate the operation of budding 

 when necessary, some weeks before it is done, that they may 

 recover entirely from its effects and be in a vigorous condition 

 for the lifting of the bark. If this has not been seasonably 

 attended to, it may be performed without detriment the same 

 day the buds are inserted, cutting away as little as may be 

 convenient. 



It is hardly necessary to remind the operator of the impor- 

 tance of securing good, well-ripened, strong buds ; of keeping 

 the shoots well shaded and fresh during the day ; and of care- 

 fully registering every variety, both by tally stakes at the 

 ends of the rows and in a book kept for the purpose. 



The best and handsomest trees are made when the buds are 

 inserted within two or three inches of the ground. Dwarf 

 pears should be budded at the surface. Crooked growers are 

 sometimes worked on straight stocks three or four feet high. 



Where buds fail they should be rebudded if the stocks 

 will admit; but if not, they may be worked the following 

 year, although this rarely pays. 



In heading-down budded stocks in spring it is important 

 that it be done quite early or before the buds swell, especially 

 for the pear, plum, and cherry, which are severely checked in 



