PKOPAGATION OP TREES AND PLANTS 



187 



Budding — For propagation by budding, the seed- 

 lings that have been heeled-in the previous fall are 

 taken up as soon as the land will work up mellow in 

 the spring, the ends and lateral roots trimmed as for 

 root grafting, and planted in the same manner as the 

 root grafts, except that they are set only as deep as 

 they stood in the seedbed. The seedling and the root 

 graft are now planted in the nursery and in a few 

 days after planting the surface of the soil must be made 

 fine and mellow and be kept in this condition through- 

 out the growing season. To insure 

 success in budding, the stocks must 

 be made to grow vigorously and be 

 kept free from insects and fungous 

 pests by spraying with kerosene, and 

 the bordeaux mixture. 



Budding is best done when the 

 seedlings are approaching maturity, 

 ranging from the first of August 

 to September 15 in different parts 

 of the country, but it must be done 

 when the bark will peel readily. 

 The buds used should be those from 

 vigorous fruiting trees that produce 

 the type of fruit desired. Before the 

 work of budding begins, a sufficient number of bud sticks 

 (Figure 96) should be prepared, as well as an abxmdance 

 of tying material (raffia fiber) cut to the proper lengths, 

 according to the size of the stocks to be budded. The 

 bud sticks and tying material are carried in a moistened 

 wrapper slung over the left shoulder, so as to be readily 

 reached by the right hand. The stocks should then be 

 trimmed for five or six inches above the ground of all 

 shoots and leaves, so as not to interfere with the work 

 of budding. A sharp shoe knife with a thin blade and 

 a rounded point is generally used, though the budding 



Pig. 96— Bud Stick 



