76 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



except that of the inserted bud. When that has grown out about 

 twelve inches, the stub is cut off to about three-quarters of an inch or 

 less from the bud, and the wood is quickly grown over by the bark. As 

 there arq apt to be dormant buds on the stock below the inserted bud, 

 the trees have to be examined from time to time, and all such suckers 

 removed. This is the common practice with budded trees. Excep- 

 tions will be noticed presently in connection with definitions of different 

 kinds of trees know to the trade. 



Spring Budding. What has been said in reference to budding 

 applies to the use of dormant buds. It is also possible to work with 

 what is called a "pushing bud." This process, as described by a dis- 

 tinguished French authority, consists of retarding the growth of the 

 buds on the scions by burying them in the ground until the sap is start- 

 ing well in the stock in the spring, and then putting them in, trim- 

 ming off the top of the stock so as to force the bud into growth. In 

 this way the grower of a rare variety may secure trees for planting 

 out the following winter, or he may secure a stock of buds for fall 

 budding, and thus multiply his stock of a desirable variety very rapidly. 

 A modification of this method consists in taking buds in the spring 

 when they have grown out even half an inch, and inserting them by 

 the usual method of lifting the bark, when the sap is flowing well in 

 the stock. Then cut off about halfi the stock, so as not to give the bud 

 too much sap at first, and afterward, when it is seen to have taken well, 

 the balance of the stock is cut off near the bud. This method gives a 

 tree the first season and saves a year over dormant budding. Shade 

 and protection from dry wind are desirable. 



GRAFTING 



The next process of propagation to be considered is that by grafting. 

 Its success, as with budding, consists in bringing the growing wood 

 (inner bark or alburnum) of the scion into contact with the same layer 

 of the stock. It can be applied to any part of the tree, from the top- 

 most branch to the lowest root, as is the case when new trees are made 

 from scions and root fragments. Thus grafting pertains both to the 

 production of young trees for planting out and to the transformation 

 of old trees bearing worthless fruit into producers of choice varieties. 



Grafting for the production of young trees is first in order. Instead 

 of budding the seedling during the first summer of its growth, it may 

 be allowed to complete its season's growth, and drop its leaves. When 

 thus dormant the young trees are taken from the ground, the roots 

 rinsed off with water if the ground is wet and sticky, or merely shaken 

 free from clinging earth if in a dry time. Enough trees are dug at 

 once to graft at a sitting. The grafting can be done at the work bench 

 in the tool-house or barn, and if one is pressed with other daylight 

 work, it may be done by lamplight at the kitchen table, if the house- 

 wife can be conciliated for the muss it will make. 



Care of Scions. The scions should be previously selected, and 

 whether taken from trees on the place or brought from near or distant 

 sources away from the farm, should have been placed as soon as pro- 



