SHIPPING BUD STICKS 77 



two. If buds were selected continuously from bearing trees 

 large orchards would need to be maintained for this pur- 

 pose ; which would add to the expense of the work. Also, 

 the per cent of buds that grow when cut from bearing 

 trees is very much lower than when taken from young 

 trees. One company which buds an average of one million 

 trees a year, estimates that not over forty per cent of the 

 buds taken from bearing trees can be expected to grow, 

 while often ninety-five per cent of those taken from other 

 nursery trees will live and make good trees. 

 . The only argument in favor of using buds from bearing 

 trees is to avoid the possible mixing of varieties. If one 

 or two bad buds should get into the nursery and these be 

 again selected the next year, the error multiplies in a 

 geometrical ratio and in a very few seasons the stock 

 would be in a badly mixed condition-. So the practice 

 of returning to the original stock once in three years is a 

 very necessary one. 



Shipping Bud Sticks. Sometimes it may become neces- 

 sary to send buds for some distance by mail or express. 

 This can readily be done if care is taken in preparing 

 them. They should be cut as described above, but in- 

 stead of wrapping in wet cloth, they should be packed in 

 moss and then wrapped in oiled paper. The moss is kept 

 wet and the oiled paper prevents them from drying out. 

 In this way they can be shipped for two or three days 7 

 journey without harm. If a longer journey is necessary, 

 it is best to slip the package, moss, paper and all, into a 

 tin tube that can be sealed up. If this precaution is taken 

 they can be carried a week or even longer without spoiling. 



