Propagation of the Pecan 53 



cutting the bud-sticks to destroy all the current season growth 

 on that branch, making it unwise to depend on these when 

 budwood is scarce or when the trees are loaded with nuts. 



The standard commercial budwood is cut while the tree is 

 dormant. This should be taken from strong vigorous shoots 

 of the previous season's growth. These shoots generally vary 

 in length from eight to twenty inches, and are from one-fourth 

 to one inch in diameter. The best buds are round and plump 

 and near the base of the shoot. The sharp-pointed flat buds 

 on the ridges near the tip ends of the limbs should not be 

 used when others can be obtained. 



This budAvood should not be taken too early in the season, 

 but cut while the tree is perfectly dormant, usually from the 

 first to the middle of February. It should be placed carefully 

 in bundles of twelve to fifteen pieces, not over ten to twelve 

 inches in length, and securely tied at both ends. Each bundle 

 should be labeled as to variety and placed in a small clean 

 box with a layer of sand about tw^o inches thick in the bottom. 

 On this are laid the bundles, putting one inch of sand on 

 top and between them, then another layer of budwood, and 

 this process continued until the box has been filled. The box 

 should be labeled and placed in cold storage, where the tem- 

 perature will not go below thirty-two or above forty-five 

 degrees. Sphagnum moss or clean sawdust may replace the 

 sand. All wrapping material should be moist, but not wet. 

 In case there are no cold storage facilities, the budwood should 

 be buried eighteen or twenty inches deep in a cool, shady, well- 

 drained place, on the north side of a building, or in a deep 

 cool cellar where the temperature is more or less uniform. 



It is important to keep budw^ood perfectly dormant until 

 just before using. Before attempting to utilize stored bud- 



