THB PROPAGATION OP FRUIT TREE8. 13 



more convenient method, and generally more successfuL "WTien 

 small stocks, of one or two seasons' growth, are used, hudding is 

 often more convenient, because the operation can he performed 

 in midsummer, when the hurry of spring work has passed, and in 

 case of :feilure, can, in many instances, he repeated the same sea- 

 son. Experience has also taught us that in our climate the graft- 

 ing of stone fruits is attended with considerable uncertainty, and 

 requires to be done with great nicety and skill, while budding is 

 almost uniformly successful. 



The season for budding is from July to September, and yet 

 the best time, the time when the operation is most likely to be 

 successful, is variable. The farmer does not cut his grain because 

 a certain day of the month has arrived, but when the grain has 

 reached that state of maturity which he has learned by experi- 

 ence to be the time when he will secure the grain in its best 

 condition. So in budding, the best time is that in which the 

 bud will most speedily and certainly unite with the stock, and 

 experience has taught us that this is while the stock is in a grow- 

 ing state, so that the bark will separate freely from the wood, and 

 yet when the activity of growth is somewhat diminished, which 

 time is indicated by the formation of the terminal bud. At this 

 stage also, the sap under the bark will have thickened and become 

 viscid or sticky, forming what botanists term the cambium. 

 This condition of the stock is the most favorable time for bud- 

 ding, and as a rule it will be found that Plum stocks reach it the 

 earliest in the season, then foUow Pear, Quince, Apple, Cheny 

 and Peach stocks, in the order in which they are named. It wiU 

 be readily understood that the time, when this condition of the 

 stock will be attained, will be very materially influenced by the 

 character of the season, the temperature, moisture, and the like. 

 A cool, moist season, will protract the period of growth and post- 

 pone the period when the cambium begins to form, while a hot 

 and dry season will shorten the growth and hasten maturity. A 

 little experience will teach the operator the fitting moment, the 

 general features of which only can be indicated in written 

 directions. 



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