PLANT PROPAGATION 



inch are also budded. A day or two before the budding, 

 boys or girls rub the leaves and twigs off the lower four 

 to six inches of the stems, so they will not impede the 

 budders. If longer ahead of budding than three days, 

 the bark will "set" and thus hinder speed in budding. 

 Buds are set as near the ground as the operator can work 

 one inch or two. This brings the union so low that 

 the unavoidable crook in the stem is inconspicuous. It 

 also permits setting the tree in the orchard slightly lower 

 than in the nursery. Best results in the northern hemi- 

 sphere are claimed to 

 follow setting the buds 

 on the north side of the 

 stocks so the sun will 

 not shine directly on 

 them. Doubtless in the 

 southern hemisphere, 

 the southern side will 

 give best results. 



343. Budding wood 

 for summer work al- 

 ways consists of well- 

 hardened wood of the 

 present season's devel- 

 opment and of the va- 

 riety it is desired to 

 propagate. The twigs, 

 which should be about 

 one-fourth inch in diam- 

 eter at their bases, are 

 severed from the par- 

 ent trees and the leaf 

 blades cut off. The leaf stems may be shortened to 

 about one-half inch so as to serve as handles when the 

 buds are being placed in the stocks. After trimming, the 

 twigs are called "bud sticks." They may bear half a 

 dozen to two dozen buds developed enough for use, but 



FIG. 203 SECURING BUD STICKS 



Such wood should be cut from bearing trees 



to be sure of variety. 



