PLANTING AND CARE OF TREES 



59 



is (either in early spring or late -summer. As commonly practiced 

 the work is done in August or early September. 



When everything is in readiness the buds are at once taken from 

 a tree of the desired variety. Long shoots of the past season's 

 growth are collected for spring budding and of the present season's 

 growth for summer budding. If the shoots are collected in the 

 summer the leaves will be on, but these should be cut off promptly, 

 leaving about a fourth of an inch of the leaf-stalk to serve as a 

 handle to the bud. This shoot is called a "stick of buds." (See 

 fig. 28). Each stick contains several buds, al of which are cut, 

 but not severed, before any of them are inserted. The cutting 

 consists in taking a slice out of the bark about an inch in length 

 and extending above and below the bud. A small amount of the 

 wood from just beneath the bud is likely to be taken, and this may 

 either be removed or left. When finally severed by making a 

 straight cut across the top, the result will be a shield-shaped 

 piece of bark with a bud in the center. A sharp thin-bladed knife 

 is necessary for clean and rapid work. 



Fig-. 29. The three stages in the process of shield-budding". 



Before inserting the buds the leaves are removed from that 

 portion of the stock where the operation is performed. A T-shaped 

 incision is made and, if the bark peels nicely, the bud may be 

 pushed down under the bark until its abrupt top fits snugly 

 against the transverse part of the T. The operation is completed 

 by tying with rafia or some kind of soft cord. The tying material 

 is usually cut in suitable lengths of about one foot. It should 

 not be wound over the bud itself. (See fig. 29). 



Budding is usually done on seedlings and at a point very near 

 the ground. With larger trees the various branches should be 



