CHAPTER VII. 

 PROPAGATION BY BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 



69. Propagation by Budding. In some cases the leaf- 

 bud is so perfectly developed that it drops to the ground, 

 where, if the conditions are favorable, it takes root and 

 develops a perfect plant. At the North the tiger lily 

 furnishes a good example, as the buds can be picked from 

 the leaf-axils and will grow if planted like seeds. In 

 favorable climates, or under glass, single eye or bud 

 cuttings with a little wood attached are planted and develop 

 perfect plants. The grape is propagated in this way, 

 especially new varieties where it is desirable to utilize every 

 bud. But the fruits mainly, and the useful ligneous 

 plants, are not so easy to propagate, as the buds must be 

 planted under the bark of a nearly allied species or variety. 



70. Some of the Purposes of Budding. Aside from the 

 perpetuation and multiplication of given varieties the pur- 

 poses of budding are manifold. Not the least one in 

 Europe is the working of highly developed fruit and flower 

 varieties on hardy robust stocks. Another main object 

 with commercial propagators is the more rapid propaga- 

 tion of new and scarce varieties, as every perfect bud may 

 make a salable plant by budding on cheap commercial 

 stocks. In section (45) some of the evils of using a given 

 stock for varied climates and soils are stated. In this 

 country the almost exclusive use of imported fruit stocks 



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