LUTHER BURBANK 



of wood. A T-shaped incision is made in the 

 bark of the tree that is to serve as host ; the upper 

 corners of the vertical slit are gently lifted with 

 a knife and turned back to reveal the cambium 

 layer ; and the bud is slipped into the little pocket 

 thus formed, and the flaps of bark are brought 

 over it and securely tied. No wax is required. 

 The binding cord must be removed in from ten 

 to fourteen days, in order not to constrict the 

 branch. 



Ordinary grafting, as described above, may 

 best be performed rather early in the spring, or 

 just as the buds are starting. But budding is 

 usually done in June, July, or August, while the 

 trees are in full leaf and vigorous growth. Per- 

 haps the best time is just before the end of the 

 most rapid-growing season in the early summer. 

 If transplanted late in summer, the bud usually 

 remains dormant until the following spring. 



If budding is done in June, the branch should 

 be broken over a short distance above the bud, 

 but not at first wholly removed, to keep up a 

 partial circulation. The bud may then start 

 growing almost immediately. These are called 

 June buds by nurserymen. 



A branch from three to six feet in length may 

 grow from a bud in a single season. 



If you have young seedlings with vigorous 

 roots, they may be grafted or budded with choice 

 varieties, and in many cases a better tree will 

 be secured than if it grew on its own roots. It 

 will be understood, however, that scions must be 



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