Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



9 



Regarding the best season to bud, it seems to be the concensus of opinion 

 here that October and November, which are mentioned by Mr. Wester as 

 undesirable months, are as good a season as any, if not the best of the whole 

 year. This is probably owing to the climatic conditions of Southern California 

 being different from those of Florida. 



Three weeks after insertion the buds will have taken and the trees should 

 be lopped back to several inches above the bud. The buds will then start 

 into growth, and when a growth of eight to twelve inches has been made 

 the stock may be trimmed back to the bud. 



Edgar Harmaii, of Sherman, has done considerable experimental budding 

 and what he says will be of value to those contemplating doing this work. 

 The seeds are started under glass and as soon as the plants are two inches 

 high they are set in pots and placed in a protected place in the open. When 

 they have grown to the diameter of three-eighths to one-half of an inch, 

 they are budded. Mr. Harman considers that this operation can be per- 

 formed successfully any month of the year except July and August. Young 

 and tender budwood is used and the buds cut from three-fourths to one 

 inch long. Waxed cloth is used for wrapping, and the buds are not wrapped 

 very tightly. As soon as the buds swell, which should be in about three 

 weeks, the top of the stock is lopped over at about the fourth leaf above 

 the bud, and a little later on it is cut clear off. When the bud has started 

 into growth the top is cut back to a level with the bud. The sap must be 

 flowing freely at the time of budding to insure success. 



C. P. Taft of Orange has probably had more experience in growing and 

 budding the avocado than any other person in California. He says: "I am 

 inclined to regard the months of October and November as the best for 

 budding, though I think there is a short period in the spring when con- 

 siderable success can be had. The buds I put in my three-year-old orchard 

 last fall have done well and are making a fine growth. About 25% of the 

 buds on stock in cans succeeded. Those put in during the warm summer 

 months were an almost total failure." 



In April, 1909, D. W. Coolidge of Pasadena budded about 150 two-year-old 

 seedlings growing in the open ground at Hollywood. The buds were taken 

 from well matured wood of the previous year's growth, and waxed cloth 

 was used for wrapping. Fully 90% of these buds took, but quite a num- 

 I er dropped their buds after having taken. However, fully 75% of the buds 

 inserted developed into trees. Mr. Coolidge has made several attempts 

 to bud stock grown in cans, but with no success, probably because trees thus 

 grown are not sufficiently vigorous. 



William Chappelow of Monrovia, owner of the original Chappelow tree, 

 states that he proceeds exactly as in budding citrus fruits, and has budded 

 at all seasons of the year with about equal success. 



Large avocado trees which are unproductive should be cut back and 

 budded over to some good variety. The method is simple, and as described 

 has been practiced very successfully by Mr. Harman. The large limbs are 

 all cut back close to the trunk, and the cut ends covered with white lead to 



