PROPAGATION. 



45 



Annular budding is applicable to trees of hard wood, or 

 thick or rigid bark, as the walnut and magnolia. A ring of 

 bark is removed from the stock ; and another corresponding 

 ring, containing the bud, slit open on one side, 

 is made to fit the denuded space (Fig. 75). 



The essential requisites for success in bud- 

 ding are, first, a thrifty, rapidly growing stock, 

 so that the bark will peel very freely. Second- 

 ly, a proper time ; not so early that there will 

 be too little cambium or mucilaginous cement 

 between the bark and the wood, for the adhe- ^'°- 7S--Annuiar 

 sion of the bud; nor so late that the bark will " "'^" 



not peel, nor the subsequent growth sufficiently cement the 

 bud to the stock. Thirdly, buds sufficiently mature. Fourthly, 

 a keen, flat knife, for shaving off the bud, that it may lie 

 close in contact upon the wood of the stock. Fifthly, the ap- 

 plication of a ligature with moderate pressure, causing the 

 bud to fit the stock closely. 



When stocks are in the best condition, it is unnecessary to 

 raise the bark any further than to admit the lower point of 

 the bud, which, as it is pushed downward, performs this op- 

 eration in the most perfect manner. When the bark does not 

 peel freely enough for this purpose, success becomes uncertain. 



Budding is performed in summer, grafting in spring, and 

 both have their advantages. Budding is a simpler operation, 

 and more successfully performed by a novice. It is the best 

 means to multiply the peach and nectarine, grafting rarely 

 proving successful at the North. It is more rapidly per- 

 formed, and at a season not crowded with the labors of trans- 

 planting. It admits a repetition the same summer, in cases 

 of failure, the stocks remaining uninjured. But in all cases 

 thrifty stocks are needed, while grafting will succeed on those 

 older and less vigorous. Grafting requires less care subse- 

 quently, as no ligatures need removing, nor stocks heading 

 down, and may be conveniently employed as a remedy for 

 failures in the previous summer's budding. 



Limits of Budding and Grafting. 

 In former ages of the world, it was erroneously supposed 

 that grafting could be performed between every species of 



