69 



end of the scion into the lower notch, and by sHghtly bending 

 force the upper end into the upper notch, using some pressure 

 to force wedges in until the scion is firm (see Fig. 4, c and d). 

 The bend in the scion will serve to keep it in place until it has 

 become united to the tree. 



In same manner insert four or more scions around the trunk 

 at regular intervals. Large trees may require six or eight 

 scions, while smaller ones will do well with four or five. 



When the scions or bridges are all in place, the wound made 

 by the operation must be thoroughly waxed. Crowd the wax 

 well into the notches and have it meet the scions snugly. If 

 air or water gets into these wounds the scions will not grow and 

 the tree will be lost. 



All shoots that start from the scions or from below the girdle 

 should be removed not later than at close of first season's 

 growth. 



While in a sense the girdled area will determine the length 

 of the bridge or scions, yet it will be found that if the girdled 

 area is short, a scion considerably longer than is really neces- 

 sary to just bridge it can be used to better advantage. Scions 

 less than 5 or 6 inches in length will be very difficult to handle 

 unless they are quite thin and pliable. 



Trees that have been bridge grafted should receive a more 

 severe pruning than is given uninjured trees. 



Budding. 



Budding differs from grafting in the amount of wood trans- 

 ferred and in the season of operation. Budding may be de- 

 fined as the insertion of a bud bearing little or no wood be- 

 neath the bark of the stock. Budding may be used for the 

 propagation of all fruit trees. It is more economical of scion 

 wood since single buds only are used. It is, however, more 

 expensive as to stocks in propagating trees since one stock 

 must be used for each tree propagated, while in grafting a 

 well-grown stock may make two or three trees. 



Budding is used primarily to propagate new trees, and for 



top working young trees; it is not as useful in top working 



,old trees as is grafting. The stock for budding should rarely 



exceed three or four years, and better success will follow the 



