PROPAGATION BY BUDDING. 71 



that from wliicli it was taken. Buds may be inserted in 

 June, and make considerable growth the same season, 

 but as a general thing this is not desirable in the propa- 

 gation of fruit trees. The ordinary season in the N'orthern 

 States is from the middle of July till the middle of Sep- 

 tember, and the earliness or lateness at which a species 

 is budded depends, other things being equal, on the con- 

 dition of its growth. 



Those accomplishing their growth early in the season 

 are budded early, and those that grow until the autumn 

 are budded late — thus the season extends over a period 

 exceeding two months. In all cases, the following condi- 

 tions are necessary : 



1st. The huds must he pey^fectly develojped in the axils 

 of the leaves on the young shoots intended to bud from. 

 This is seldom the case until the shoot has temporarily 

 ceased to lengthen, as indicated by the perfect formation 

 of its terminal bud. 



If buds are wanted before this condition naturally ar- 

 rives, their maturity may be hastened very much by 

 pinching the tips of the shoots. In ten or twelve days 

 after the pinching of a very soft shoot, its buds are fit for 

 working. 



2d. The l^arTc must rise freely from the stocks to he l)ud- 

 ded. This only happens when the stocks are in a thrifty 

 and growing state. Where only a few stocks are to be 

 worked, they can be easily watered, if necessary, a week 

 or so before it is desirable to bud them. Trees that ac- 

 complish most of their growth early in the season, must 

 be watched and budded before they cease to grow ; those 

 that grow very late, must not be budded early, or the 

 formation of new wood will surround and cover the buds ; 

 in gardener's language, they will be " drowned by the 

 sap." 



The imjplements needed are a pruning hnife to dress 



