SHIELD BUDDING. 15 



The subsequent treatment is in all respects similar to that given 

 for cuttings. Mark the kinds, with the dates of grafting and plant- 

 ing, on large labels which will not be easily displaced. 



SCION OR SPRIG BUDDING. 



Scion or sprig budding is perhaps the most successful and easiest 

 to accomplish of all methods where it is desired to perpetuate an 

 especially good tree. It is jDracticed on stocks which have not been 

 transplanted for at least one year previous to the time when it 

 is desired to bud. The stocks should be much larger than those 

 used for root grafting. The most desirable time for the operation 

 is in the spring, when the bark lifts easily; this will necessarily be 

 after the stocks come into leaf. The scions must be selected from 

 shoots of the previous season's growth, short and stocky, with two 

 buds present. They should be cut from the parent plants in the 

 fall and kept dormant until the opportune moment arrives when 

 the stock plants are in a receptive condition. 



In preparing the stock for the scion the preliminary work is similar 

 to that in shield budding the peach, cherry, or rose. At a point a lit- 

 tle above the collar of the stock a transverse cut is made through the 

 bark for a distance of half an inch or more around the stem. This is 

 followed by a longitudinal cut, beginning in the middle of the first 

 cut and extending downward for about an inch. Lift up the bark 

 at each side of the long cut and it is ready for the scion, which is 

 prepared for insertion by making an oblique cut through the base, so 

 as to leave a cut surface about an inch long, and then tie the parts 

 together so that they will be held firmly while the union is taking 

 place. In order to exclude air and moisture, grafting wax or clay 

 should be applied. 



Within two weeks from the time of budding the union will be 

 effected if everything has gone well. The ligature should not be 

 removed, however, until there is danger of its cutting into the bark. 

 The most essential part of the subsequent treatment consists in head- 

 ing back the stock, so that the future head of the tree will be formed 

 by the growth of the scion, and to do this successfully good judgment 

 must be exercised. Cut off only a part at first, leaving some foliage 

 on the stock until the buds on the scion begin to push, when that 

 part of the stock above the union should be removed with a sharp 

 knife. Cover with grafting wax the wound thus made. 



SHIELD BUDDING. 



The shield system of budding may be used, but only in the spring, 

 as the mulberry does not take kindly to shield buds inserted during 

 the season suitable for budding most of our fruit trees. 

 15698— Bull. 119—07 2 



