24 PROPAGATION 



BUDDING. 



Largely practised for the propagation of roses, flowering cherries, 

 .peaches, red chestnuts, etc., this process possesses the same merits and 

 demerits as grafting. . It only differs from grafting in that the scion is a 

 single bud with a little bark attached, instead of a piece of branchlet. 

 Budding can only be done in summer when the bark parts freely from the 

 wood, usually in July and August. The buds selected are generally those 

 near the base of the current year's shoot. They are cut out with a sharp 

 knife, leaving about half an inch of bark above and below the bud and a 

 narrow strip at each side of it. A little wood is always cut out with the 

 bud, and this must be carefully removed. The process consists in making 

 a T-shaped incision in the year-old (or may be older) bark of the stock, 

 lifting up the pieces at the angles of the cut with the handle of the 

 budding knife and then pushing the newly made bud-scion under the 

 lifted pieces. The latter are then to be laid back over the scion and 

 the whole bound up in worsted or bast, leaving only the bud exposed. 

 The scion-buds should lie dormant until the following spring. 



The principle of budding is exactly the same as in grafting, the 

 cambium of the bud and its attendant bark is laid flat on that of the 

 stock. On this account the chances of union taking place are increased; 

 but budding is the more delicate operation because of the softness and 

 tenderness of the material dealt with. Dull days should, if possible, be 

 selected for the work, and the quicker it is accomplished the greater 

 success is gained. 



