PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES 275 



Mussell Plum. Most of them do upon either stock ; some soils suit one better 

 than the other, but only local experience can determine this. They are always 

 budded in August. 



Apricots are budded in August on the Mussell or Common Plum stocks. 



Blackberries and Brambles are increased by division of the roots, by 

 cuttings of the roots, and by the tops of shoots inserted three-quarters of their 

 length in the soil in March. 



Gooseberries and Currants are raised from cuttings, which are inserted 

 three-quarters of their length below the soil in March. If wanted upon a stem 

 all buds, except four at the upper end, are removed. 



Black Currants are best as low bushes ; the buds must not be removed 

 as the shoots which spring up from them furnish the tree with the young 

 growths upon which fruit is borne. 



Figs are propagated by layers and cuttings, the latter being rooted in pots in 

 a moderately warm house. 



Cob Nuts and Filberts are raised by layers ; they do not come true from 

 seed. 



Medlars are budded on the Pear stock or the White Thorn. 



Propagation by Budding 



Budding.— o. Portion of a strong and well-hardened apple shoot of the current season's growth, 

 showing mode of "taking" the buds; {g) point of cutting leaves, leaving part of the leaf and petiole 

 (leaf-stalk) to serve as a handle to the^bud ; (A) dotted verticall lines indicate direction of knife in 

 "taking" buds, the trimmed shoot being called a "stick." Note. — The upper buds of a shoot, often 

 not fully developed and borne on soft wood, are usually discarded, as also are the small basal buds of 

 the shoot (i). p. Proper bud, long and pointed ; a wood bud almost always in the case of the apple and 

 pear, but not so in the cherry, nectarine, peach, and plum ; {J) shield or portion of bark and wood 

 with bud and portion of leaf. Q. Improper bud, rounded, stout and short ; a blossom bud, such as 

 occurs on the season's growth of the cherry, nectarine, peach, and plum, especially when weakly or 

 stunted. R. Triple bud of peach, the centre bud being usually a wood bud, long, narrow, and pointed ; 

 whether there are one, two, or three buds, one must be [a wood bud. s. Bud properly taken and pre- 

 pared for insertion in stock ; (i) bark exposed by cut of thin-bladed sharp knife in taking off bud ; 

 (i) part from which the wood has been removed leaving the eye intact. The whole bud is usually about 

 I inch long. 



Inserting the Bud. — t. Making incisions in stock ; one vertical, an inch or inch and a half long, 

 the other transverse, thus forming a T. Both cuts must reach through the bark only. u. Bud inserted, 

 the corners of bark are raised a little so as to allow bud to be pushed in, this being done partly by the 

 fingers and finished by the handle of the knife placed upon the leaf stalk ; cut off the top of bud 

 when the whole of it cannot be passed into the cleft, v. Bud tied ; (^) bandage about i foot long, 

 usually started below the bud, the end being held by lapping the second course over it, and the upper 

 end being secured by drawing a bow through the second course. Take care not to bend over the bud 

 itself. Attention afterwards is necessary to loosen or remove the bandage in due time. This may 

 usually be done safely within a month, the portion of the stock below the bud should, in all cases, be 

 kept clear of useless growths, but the shoots above must be preserved or very slightly shortened. In 

 autumn the stock may be cut back to 2 inches above the bud, or a portion, 4 to 6 inches, may be left 

 for securing the growth from the inserted bud. w. Growth from bud ; (r) vigorous shoot ; (j) secured to 

 remaining portion of stock ; (i) point of cutting off portion of stock above bud, performed when scion 

 growth is about 12 inches high. A stake is necessary in some cases to secure the growth when no part 

 of the stock is left. 



Heights of Budding Stocks. — For root influence only, as the Quince stock for the pear, 3 inches ; 

 for trees generally on dwarfing stocks, 6 inches ; for trees required with a stem or branches not nearer 

 the ground than i foot, 9 inches ; and standards not having stems of their own should be budded at the 

 height of stem desired. The time ofibudding depends upon the season and condition of growth. 

 Cherries and apricots are sometimes ready by end of June, but later is preferable. Always do this 

 work while the bark, with the bud, can be .properly detached from the wood. The order of budding 

 may be taken as follows : first, cherries ; second, apricots ; third, plums, apples, pears ; fourth, 

 nectarines and peaches ; fifth, walnuts. 



