44 



PROPAGATION. 



tree, the new shoot, when a few inches long, is sometimes 

 tied to the remaining stump of the stock, Fig. 73. By another 

 month, no further support will be needed, and the stump may 

 be wholly cut away, and the wound allowed to heal by the 

 rapid formation of new wood. 



Buds inserted by midsummer may be made to grow the 

 same season by heading down the stock when adhesion has 

 taken place ; but although often attempted, no advantage has 

 resulted from this practice, as the growth is comparatively 

 feeble, and in consequence of its badly matured wood often 

 perishes the following winter. Even where it escapes it does 

 not exceed in size at the close of the second season the 

 straight and vigorous shoots of the spring. 



TERMINAL BUDDING. It sometimes happens, where buds are 

 scarce, that the terminal bud on the shoot may be used to ad- 

 vantage. In this case, the wood is cut slop- 

 ing downward, and the insertion is made as 

 usual, Fig. 74, except that it becomes nec- 

 essary to apply the whole of the ligature 

 below the bud. The buds on small side- 

 shoots which are not more than an inch or 

 two long, may be successfully used in this 

 way, as the terminal eyes are stronger than 

 any of the others. This practice may some- 

 times be adopted with advantage with the 

 peach, where scions of feeble growth only 

 can be obtained, as terminal buds usually 

 escape the severity of winter when most 

 of the others are destroyed. 

 SPRING BUDDING is successfully practised as soon as trees 

 are in leaf, the buds having been kept dormant in an ice-house 

 or cool cellar. As soon as they have adhered, the stock is 

 headed down, and a good growth is made the same season. 

 The peach, the nectarine, the apricot, and the mulberry, all 

 difficult to propagate by grafting, may in this way be easily 

 increased by budding. For a description what is called " June 

 budding" see chapter xxviii. on the peach. If the buds are kept 

 in a cellar, it will be found important to preserve with them 

 as uniform a degree of moisture as possible, and in as small 

 a degree as will keep them from wilting. 



FIG. 74 Terminal 

 Budding. 



