110 



AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



way, should be attended to about mid-season, while they 

 are still growing ; but quinces and peaches may be kept 

 in a growing state much later than most other stocks, and 

 can be budded last of all. 



How TO DO rr. — ^The stocks being in a suitable condition 

 as above described, they should be trimmed of their lateral 

 shoots for a few inches from the ground. This may be 

 done immediately in advance of the budder, or it may 

 have been done a few days before the budding. The 

 stock may be one year old, or two years ; after this period 

 they do not work so well. The usual method is to make 

 a T incision through the bark of the stock, as low down as 



possible, but in a smooth 

 piece of the stem ; some 

 prefer to insert the 

 shield just below the 

 natural site of a bud. 

 The knife should be thin 

 und sharp, and if the 

 stock be in good condi- 

 tion, it will pass through 

 the bark with very 

 little resistance ; but if 

 the stock be too dry, the experienced budder will detect 

 it by the different feeling communicated through his knife, 

 by the increased resistance to be overcome in making the 

 cut. The custom has been to raise the bark by inserting 

 the haft of the budding knife gently, so as to start the 

 comers of the incision, pi-eparatoiy to inserting the bud ; 

 but our best budders depend upon the shield separating 

 the bark as it is introduced. The bud is cut from the 



Fig. 17. — BUDDING, WITH THE WOOD RE- 

 MOVED, b, TUE INSIDE OF THE SHIELD 

 SHOWIHG THE BASE OF THE BUD. 



