40 



PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



should be transplanted to the orchard. If left in the nur- 

 sery rows longer than for one year's growth from the bud, 

 they are likely to become misshapen or overgrown and will 

 be undesirable trees for the orchard. 



How Budding is Done. A good, healthy bud is cut from 

 the scion with the bark surrounding it in the form of a shield 

 (Fig. 18, A). A cut is now made through the bark of the 

 stock, in the form of a letter T, shown at B; this is pref- 

 erably done on the north side 

 of the stock to avoid the hot 

 sun. Turn back the edges of 

 the bark as shown at C. 

 Insert the bud into its new 

 home just under the bark as 

 shown at D. The top of the 

 shield must be as low as the 

 top of the T. Tie the bark 

 down tightly over the edges of 

 the shield as at E; waxed 

 knitting cotton, No. 18 or 20, 

 may be used for this, as it will 

 not grow into the bark and 

 stop circulation; raffia fiber 

 is also good for this purpose. 

 EXERCISE. Practice in 

 Budding. Twigs from willow 

 trees may be placed in water in a warm room in the winter 

 and the bark well loosened in a few days. Use these to 

 practise the method of budding just described. 



Top=working of Trees. Tree tops may be changed from 

 one variety to another. If an apple tree bears poor fruit 

 it may be changed to bear good apples. This is done by 

 top-working, as it is called. Many branches are cut off the 

 poor tree, and in their places may be inserted new buds or 

 grafted new scions of the variety desired (Fig. 19). This 



FIG. 19. Cleft-grafting a fruit tree. 

 The tree is severely cut back and good 

 scions are grafted on. The boys are top- 

 working the tree. 



