PLANT PROPAGATION 



209 



This graft may not be covered with wax, but merely tied firmly. A 

 cord used for this purpose is usually No. 18 knitting cotton soaked in 

 grafting wax. This is just strong enough to break when it should, 

 before the branch is strangled. 



BUDDING. The simplest method of budding is known as shield 

 budding. It consists of placing a shield-shaped piece of bark bearing 

 a bud, beneath the bark of the stock. A good, 

 healthy, well budded branch is chosen; the 

 buds are cut from it, holding the branch up- 

 side down. A T-shaped cut is made in the 

 stock near the base of the plant; the free 

 edges are carefully peeled back and the bud 

 inserted as shown in the cut. The budded 

 stock is then tied with yarn or raffia so that 

 the bud is held firmly; all should be covered 

 except the bud. Budding may be employed 

 whenever the bark peels nicely. 



Prof. U. P. Hedrick, the expert horticul- 

 turist of the Geneva Experiment Station, 

 gives the following dates for budding: Rose, 

 July 1 to 10; Pear, July 10 to 15; Apple, 

 July 15 to Aug. 1; Plum (St. Julian stock), 

 July 15 to Aug. 1; Plum (Myrobalan stock), 

 Aug. 15 to Sept. 1; Cherry (Mazzard), July 

 20 to Aug. 1; Cherry (Mahaleb), Aug. 20 to 

 Sept. 1; Quince, July 25 to Aug. 15; Peach, 

 Aug. 20 to Sept. 10. 



LAYERS. By layers we mean that some 

 portion of a branch has been placed in contact 

 with the soil so that it may root. Many 

 plants root very readily by this method, and 

 as it is very convenient, perfectly simple and 

 certain, it can be used in every garden for 

 some purpose. Grapes can easily be propa- 

 gated by this method. A cane is merely 

 bent down and a node or two covered with 

 soil. They root readily and the new plant 

 can soon be separated from the old one. 



Another type of layering is that by which 



a bush is mounded so that each shoot roots, making from five to twenty- 

 five young plants instead of one. After they are well rooted the plant 

 can be divided and each part will be a separate plant. Gooseberries 

 and many ornamental shrubs can be mound-layered. Strawberries 



The budding of Roses 

 1. Rose shoot showing 

 where bud should be cut 



out (see dotted line.") 



2 and 3. Buds as prepared 



for insertion, No. 2 having 



the wood removed behind 



the eye. 



4. "T" shaped cut in shoot. 



5. Eye inserted in shoot 



prior to binding. 



6. Shoot when bound up. 

 Raffia is used and only the 



bud is left exposed 



