PROPAGATION OF TREES AND PLANTS 



187 



Budding — For propagation by budding, the seed- 

 lings that luive been heeled-in the previous fall are 

 taken up as soon as the land will work up mellow in 

 the spring, the ends and lateral roots trimmed as for 

 root grafting, and planted in the same manner as the 

 root grafts, except that they are set only as deep as 

 they stood in the seedbed. The seedling and the root 

 graft are now planted in the nursery and in a few 

 days after planting the surface of the soil must be made 

 fine and mellow and be kept in this condition through- 

 out the growing season. To insure 

 success in budding, the stocks must 

 be made to grow vigorously and be 

 kept free from insects and fungous 

 pests by spraying with kerosene and 

 the bordeaux mixture. 



Budding is best done when the 



seedlings are approaching maturity, 



ranging from the first of August 



to September 15 in different parts 



of the country, but it must be done 



when the bark will peel readily. 



The buds used should be those from 



vigorous fruiting trees that produce 



the type of fruit desired. Before the 



work of budding begins, a sufficient number of bud sticks 



(Figure 96) should be prepared, as well as an abundance 



of tying material (raffia fiber) cut to the proper lengths, 



according to the size of the stocks to be budded. The 



bud sticks and tying material are carried in a moistened 



wrapper slung over the left shoulder, so as to be readily 



reached by the right hand. The stocks should then be 



trimmed for five or six inches above the ground of all 



shoots and leaves, so as not to interfere with the work 



of budding. A sharp shoe knife with a thin blade and 



a rounded point is generally used, though the budding 



Fig. 96— Bud Stick 



