184 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



but no harm results. It simply takes the place of pruning 

 and starts the buds growing soon after the furrow is 

 removed, which should be done during the latter part of 

 March or somewhat earlier. Summer budding is not to 

 be recommended for all sections. In frostless regions, no 

 objection can be urged against the practice, but in regions 

 subject to frost, the growth, resulting from buds inserted 

 at this time, is often not sufficiently matured to withstand 

 the frosts of early fall and winter. Of course, the point 

 of union with the stock may be covered with earth as 

 mentioned above, but even then if the growth be soft and 

 succulent, it may be stunted or killed outright. 



Methods. As soon as the stocks have attained suffi- 

 cient size, buds may be inserted in them. Occasionally 

 stocks grown from seed planted in spring may be dormant- 

 budded the following autumn, or they may be spring- 

 budded when one year old, or worked in June or the fol- 

 lowing September. These are exceptions, however, and 

 generally the stocks are budded when two or three 

 years old, but there is no age limit beyond which 

 buds cannot be inserted by some method, pro- 

 vided the stocks are of sufficient size and the 

 bark will slip readily. One other matter must be consid- 

 ered before taking up the actual discussion of methods. 

 It should be borne in mind that the point of union between 

 the stock and cion is more subject to the effects of cold 

 than any other part of the trunk of a budded tree. Be- 

 sides, if all that part which has developed from the cion, 

 perishes in cold weather, re-budding is necessary. This 

 might be prevented by budding well down toward the 

 crown roots, that the earth might afford protection or 

 that it might be more easily banked against the point of 

 union during the dangerous season. 



