36 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



CHAPTEE V. 



BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 



BUDDING. 



The propagation of woody plants by the process known 

 as budding, consists in taking from one tree or shrub, a 

 bud and transferring it to another. The plant upon 

 which the bud is placed is called the stock. The limits 

 of this operation are not very well defined, but for all 

 practical purposes I may say that it is limited to the 

 members of the same genus, or closely allied plants ; 

 that is, oaks may be budded on oaks, chestnut on 

 chestnut, and generally the nearer related the species, 

 the more successful the operation. But like all other 

 rules pertaining to the propagation of plants, there 

 are exceptions, and occasionally we may find that the 

 wood of two species belonging to the same genus, cannot 

 be made to unite and form what is termed a union. 

 There is always a preference in stocks belonging to the 

 same genus, and the propagator seeks the best for his 

 purpose. I may say, however, that as a rule, the weak 

 and feeble growing should always be placed upon the 

 strong growing, if rapid growth and long life is the 

 object of propagation. 



Budding is usually performed in summer, soon after 

 the buds or a portion of them are fully developed on the 

 young wood of the present season's growth. The stock 

 into which the buds are to be inserted must be in a simi- 

 lar condition, although the stem or branch at the point 

 of junction may be more than one year old, but in no 

 case must the bark be so thick and rigid, that it cannot 

 be readily separated from the wood beneath, because the 

 bud is to be inserted under the bark of the stock, and 

 unless this can be done the operation will fail. We have 



