44 



AGRICULTURE 



slender piece of bark and wood about three fourths of an 

 inch long, leaving a part of the leaf stem for use as a 

 handle. This is the way in which peach and most other 

 fruit trees are increased. Budding is usually done in 



summer while the plants 

 are in active growth. 

 To serve as stock for 

 budding, an apple tree 

 may be about two years 

 old, but a peach seed- 

 ling can be budded in 

 its first year of growth. 

 Two slits in the shape 

 of a T are cut in the 

 stock, as shown in Fig. 

 34. The bark below 

 the cross slit is gently 

 lifted and the bud placed 

 under these two flaps of 

 bark, and tied in place. 

 In a few weeks, when 

 the bud has united with 

 the stock, the strings 



should be cut. Next spring the top of the stock above 

 the inserted bud should be cut off, so as to let the inserted 

 bud become the leading branch of the tree. Fig. 35 

 shows the budding of trees in the nursery row. 



EXERCISE. Practice grafting short pieces of twigs of plum, persim- 

 mon, apple, or other trees and shrubs. Then graft a twig of any of 

 these. tJ* have dropped their leaves, on a slender shoot of the same 



FIG. 35. TYING THE BUDS AFTER BUDDING 



