THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — BUDDING. 



97 



might rightly be called '' beheading system," he could not 

 indorse. It was found that a much better way was to girdle 

 the limbs just above the new buds, to be done with a knife, 

 slanting away from the bud. In old trees several buds can be 

 inserted on large limbs, thus giving greater assurances of 

 success. 



Many budders remove from the limb, above the bud, a ring 

 of bark, about an inch wide, which induces it to start. The 

 bud is left to grow at will until the following spring, when the 

 branches are finall}' removed, and the buds which have had a 

 season's start are made to assume the functions of the top. 



Protecting the Trunks of Large Trees.— As soon as pos- 

 sible after the removal of the tops the ends of all limbs cut are 

 waxed over. The trunks are then treated with a heavy coat of 

 whitewash, or wrapped with sacks to prevent them from being 

 scorched by the hot sun. Water is applied, and everything 

 possible done to cause the tree and buds to start without being 

 injured. But these precautions are not as necessary where the 

 gradual process is practiced. 



Large seedling orange trees changed over by budding in the branches. 



Budding Large Trees in the Branches.— The rules laid 

 down for budding large trees in the main branches close to the 

 trunk apply with equal force to budding large trees in the 

 branches higher up. and as shown in the accompanying illus- 



7c 



