Propagation of the Pecan 



55 



surface there will be when the new top is formed. However, 



they should not be inserted where the trunk or limb exceeds 



four inches in diameter, on account of the difficulty in the 



healing of the wound after cutting back. The tendency is to 



use too many buds and to place them too 



far out on the limbs. The buds should be 



set in a clean smooth place where no bud 



has grown before, and always on the 



upper side of limbs so as to enable the 



resulting sprouts to start an upright 



growth. 



Until a few years ago it was not 

 thought practical to insert buds into the 

 rough bark of trunks or branches. The 

 place for the bud should be prepared by 

 first paring down Avith a strong sharp 

 knife a space in the rough bark about two 

 inches long by one and one-half inches 

 wide. This rough bark on the stock 

 should be trimmed down until it is ap- 

 proximately the same thickness as the 

 bark containing the bud. This will allow 

 the string used in tying to press tightly 

 on the inserted bud, thus insuring the 

 cambium layers of both bud and stock 

 meeting at all points (Fig. 10). 



The patch-bud is made by first draw- 

 ing the budding-knife across the stock, leaving two parallel 

 incisions a little less than one inch apart. A sharp pocket 

 knife is then used to make two vertical cuts on either side 

 about one-half inch apart. Care should be exercised to cut 



Figure 10. 

 a, Patch - bud in- 

 serted in rough bark 

 ou Umb three inches 

 in diameter ; h, 

 space ^Yhere rough 

 bark has l)een pared 

 down to same thick- 

 ness as barlv con- 

 taining bud. 



