70 



use of one and two year old stocks. It is the only practical 

 method of propagating the peach and cherry varieties, and it 

 may be applied to any of our orchard fruit trees. 



Because of the very nature of the operation, budding must 

 be done when the bark slips easily and when there is a supply 

 of buds properly developed. These conditions are met in this 

 section in the late summer and early fall. At that season the buds 



Fio. 5. —Budding: a, the bud cut from bud stick; b, showing method of cutting 

 bud; knife is started below the bud in cut; c, the T cut on the stock; d, the 

 finished job, showing the bud in position and the method of wrapping with raffia 

 or string, 



growing at the bases of the leaves on the shoots of current 

 season's growth are sufficiently developed to form good scions. 

 In the earlier part of the budding season avoid the buds found 

 near the base and those near the tip of the shoots, taking only 

 those growing in the middle two-thirds of the shoots, since, 

 as a rule, these buds are the best nourished and most matured. 



During this period, also, the sap is flowing freely through the 

 cambium, or growing area, and the bark therefore slips readily. 



In Massachusetts budding may be done from the middle of 

 August until well into September. No growth is made by the 

 bud until the following season. 



