LUTHER BURBANK 



They began showing growth above ground in a 

 short time, and the ground was very carefully 

 cultivated. 



By the time the buds in my prune orchard were 

 ready for grafting, the young almond-trees were 

 also ready. Toward the last of June, and in July 

 and August, a large force of budders were 

 employed in placing the French prune buds on the 

 almond-stalks. 



After about ten days, when the buds had thor- 

 oughly united with the stalk, the tops of the young 

 trees were broken over about eight inches from 

 the ground; great care being exercised not to 

 break them entirely off, but only to break the top 

 down and still keep it alive. 



If the top is broken or cut entirely off, the 

 young trees are about certain to die. This is a 

 mistake which many nurserymen make in trying 

 to grow June buds, but by bending the tops over 

 and leaving them on, none of the trees die, and 

 the buds start much better than by any other plan. 



Soon the young prune buds began to burst 

 forth. These were carefully tied up alongside 

 the stalk, and when they were a foot or more in 

 height the old almond top was wholly cut away. 



By December first, about 19,500 of the trees 

 were ready for the planter; the others were fur- 

 nished the next season. 



[92] 



