WINTER BUDDING. 5 1 



on each tree, which were at once cut back to within a foot of 

 the buds. These buds have now (May 5) made shoots three 

 feet long. Whether this is absolutely necessary to arrest the 

 movement of the sap, Mr. Hancock has never tested by leav- 

 ing the limb entire, but as there is practically no movement 

 in winter it would seem not. There would be no objection to 

 cutting back in a cold climate, except dying off of limbs so 

 cut in case of a freeze after the sap began to move from such 

 severe pruning. Of course, after the buds have started well, 

 the limbs should be sawed off with a sloping cut close above 

 the buds, though the bud in the cut was not so treated. 

 Enough shoots of the stock should be allowed to grow below 

 to keep the tree healthy, which could be cut away later in the 

 season or the following year. This method may be very valu- 

 able to the orange growers of Florida in the ordinary propa- 

 gation of trees, as budding by the common method often fails. 

 It will also be exceedingly valuable for turning large trees of 

 pecans and other nuts into the finer kinds, and must entirely 

 supersede all orchard top-grafting, which, from the liability 

 of the scion to dry out, is a very uncertain as well as trouble- 

 some process, while this is quick, easy and certain. More- 

 over, why could it not be used by nurserymen for budding 

 during winter stocks that could not be dormant budded in 

 the fall before? Or perhaps after the bark ceases to slip in 

 the fall the work could be continued by this method then. 

 Mr. Hancock has not found it as convenient or successful 

 during the ordinary budding season as the common method, 

 nor has he ever tried it during the winter before February 

 here, but has had uniform success. At the North, perhaps 

 just when the buds begin to swell would be an excellent 

 time, and for the next month. I omitted saying that after 

 inserting the bud and pressing the flap back, a small piece of 

 cotton cloth dipped in beeswax should be laid over it and 

 then tied firmly, as in common budding. That will prevent air 

 and the rain from entering, and all will live. 



