168 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



start may be grafted the following spring or budded in 

 June. Should arms fail to appear in the proper place, 

 it is possible to supply them by setting buds directly 

 into the body of the young tree. 



When the buds begin to push into new growth, they 

 will require about the same care as young grafts. They 

 will need some pinching-back to strengthen the stem 

 and to overcome the tendency to become top-heavy. 

 With the possible exception of young trees budded in 

 late June, all growth from the original stock should be 

 removed as it appears. 



Buds may be set in June, or in August and September. 

 For June-budding the bud-sticks are cut as soon as good 

 firm new wood can be secured. New wood with buds 

 mature enough for budding may generally be cut from 

 old trees the latter part of June. As soon as the buds 

 unite with the stock, the bandage is cut and the part of 

 the stock above the bud is removed. In June-budding 

 it is well to leave some of the new growth that springs 

 from the arms below the bud. This takes the surplus 

 sap and helps nourish the roots until the buds are well 

 started. Wood from buds set in June may not mature 

 well in our climate, and so is susceptible to winter injury 

 during severe winters. By careful watering, such growth 

 may mature very well. 



When practicable, fall budding should be given the 

 preference. In the case of peach trees, June-budding 

 is preferred where, in early spring, attacks of twig borers 

 often destroy buds set the previous fall. In the apple 

 and pear it is more convenient to bud in the fall. Arms 

 that are large enough to bud in early spring were large 



