114 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



but comparatively few men have yet devoted the requisite 

 time and study to the subject. Thus there are at present only 

 a few propagators in the United States who can produce 

 budded mango trees economically and in quantity. 



Various methods of budding, beginning with the patch-bud, 

 have been tried at different times, but shield-budding (Fig. 11) 

 is the only one which has proved altogether satisfactory for 

 nursery purposes. The method is the same as that used with 

 citrus fruits and the avocado. Having been less extensively 

 practiced, however, mango budding is less thoroughly under- 

 stood, and it is not a simple matter to judge the condition of 

 the stock plants and the budwood without experience. 



The best season for budding the mango in Florida is generally 

 considered to be May and June, but the work is done success- 

 fully all through the summer. It is necessary to bud in warm 

 weather, when the stock plants are in active growth. 



When seedlings have attained the diameter of a lead-pencil 

 they can be budded, although they are commonly allowed to 

 grow a little larger than this. The proper time for inserting 

 the buds is when the plants are coming into flush, i.e., commenc- 

 ing to push out wine-colored new growth. When they are in 

 this stage, the bark separates readily from the wood; after 

 the new growth has developed further and is beginning to 

 lose its reddish color, the bark does not separate so easily and 

 budding is less successful. 



The budwood should be taken from the ends of young 

 branches, but usually not from the ultimate or last growth ; the 

 two preceding growths are better. It is considered important 

 that budwood and stock plant be closely similar, in so far as 

 size and maturity of wood are concerned. If possible, branch- 

 lets from which the leaves have fallen should be chosen. In 

 any event, the budwood should be fairly well ripened, and the 

 end of the branchlet from which it is taken should not be in 

 active growth. 



