SCION AND SHIELD BUDDING. 15 



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 little 

 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 (PL XII. C.) 

 This is followed by a longitudinal cut. beginning in the middle of the 

 first cut and extending downward for about an inch. Prize up the 

 bark at each side of the long cut (PI. XII. C) 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 (PL XII. A and B). 

 The scion is then fitted in place so that its cut surface is neatly placed 

 against the wood of the stock (PL XII. D) laid bare by the raising of 

 the bark. The next operation is shown in PL XII. E. and consists in 

 tying 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, as shown in PL XII. F. 



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 the wound thus made with grafting wax. 



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 most of our fruit trees. 



Shield budding consists in selecting a stock, either a branch or stem, 

 from which the bark slips readily. In raising the bark of the stock 

 for the reception of the bud, the work is similar to that described for 

 scion or sprig budding. The bud is usually selected from dormant 

 wood kept over winter in ashes or sand: but for this there exists no 

 necessity, because there is always present an abundance of dormant buds 

 on a growing plant, and these answer the purpose much better than 

 buds from dormant wood. To remove them, with a sharp knife make 

 an incision in the stem about five-eighths of an inch below the bud; 

 bring the blade up under the bud, severing a section of bark three- 

 eighths of an inch in width, with the bud in the center; bring the 

 blade out a little above the bud. If this operation is neatly performed 

 the bud will require no further trimming before being inserted under 

 the bark of the stock. The bark of the stock is then firmly bound 

 over that of the bud and the parts kept in position with raffia. No 



