BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 227 



The most successful form of bud with us has been a partial ring or 

 flute bud extending only part way round the stem. We have had the 

 best success with buds having a portion of bark attached about one half 

 to three quarters of an inch wide and three quarters of an inch long. 

 The former dimension is that measured around the stem and the latter 

 the vertical distance. For cutting and placing such buds a double- 

 bladed knife is most suitable for which we have found a home-made 

 contrivance entirely satisfactory. Two blades are fixed upon a handle in 

 such a manner that they are about three quarters of an inch apart. 

 With this cuts are made on either side of the bud on the bud stick, after 

 which similar cuts are made in the bark of the stock about six inches 

 above ground if the seedling is large enough. These cuts should not 

 extend more than halfway round the tree, leaving the bark intact for 

 halfway round on the other side. Referring to the sentence above, where 

 we state the proper size of the piece of bark attached to the bud, it will 

 be seen that the buds should be put on at a place where one half the cir- 

 cumference of the stock amounts to at least one half to three fourths of 

 an inch. Perpendicular cuts are then made with one of the knife blades 

 at either end of the ring of bark on the stock and this is removed. The 

 bud, previously cut, is then removed, cut off if necessary to the proper 

 horizontal width, so that it will just fit the opening in the bark of the 

 stock. In stripping off the bud the core of wood inside the bud itself 

 usually remains in place without difficulty if the bud is mature enough 

 to be worth using. Usually buds in which the heart wood pulls out are 

 so immature that they would not take in any event. With good buds it 

 is simply necessary to strip off the bark without attempting to include 

 any of the wood. The operator uses his judgment in selecting the seed- 

 lings of such a size that the strip of bark bearing the bud, with its one 

 half to three quarters of an inch horizontal width, will be of the right 

 size to extend not more than halfway round the stock. Where the bud 

 reaches nearly or quite around the stock, forming a more or less complete 

 ring bud, a bad constriction and swelling is often produced at this point, 

 making an undesirable sort of tree. The bud may be put in just above 

 ground, or at any other point where the stock has the proper size, as 

 well as at six inches from the ground, as above stated. The object of 

 the latter is to leave space for further attempts below the first bud in 

 case it does not take. The bud is slipped into place and tied either with 

 waxed cloth, such as is used in budding citrus seedlings, or with soft 

 cotton budding twine. We have had the most uniform success with 

 waxed cloth. The tying should be done very carefully, bringing the 

 inner surface of the bud bark into smooth, close contact with the exposed 

 wood of the stock, especially close about the bud itself. After securing 

 the buds in place they should be watched carefully and if successful 

 they will remain green and soon unite with the stock. Spring buds may 



