SHIELD BUDDING 



377 



the cion. When the tree is taken up from the nursery, the 

 seedling root piece is removed and the tree is thus on its own 

 roots. 



Grapes are also bench grafted or tongue grafted in the dor- 

 mant season. 



4. Shield Budding. On young trees and those with small 

 branches, budding is very useful in changing the variety. It is 

 employed by the nurseryman to establish the desired variety 

 on seedling stock. It is employed by the fruit grower to work 

 over young trees, on either the trunk or the branches. The 

 essential considerations are the same as in graftage, except 

 that a single bud is substituted for the cion. The most common 

 form is shield budding, taking its name from the shape of the 

 bit of bark cut off with the bud. 



Time of Performing Operation. The bark on normal fruit 

 trees peels or slips in late summer. The trees are then ready to 

 bud. The actual time varies with the fruit, the season, and 

 the section. Ordinarily it occurs in August or early Sep- 

 tember. 



Selecting the Buds. Take well-developed buds from the 

 terminal growths of the current season on trees of the desired 

 variety. Shoots so taken are termed bud sticks. Clip off the 

 leaves immediately to stop evaporation, but allow part of the 

 leaf stalks to remain attached to the buds to serve as handles 

 in manipulating them (Fig. 147) . Use the bud sticks at once 

 or, if that is impossible, put them in a cool, moist place. 



Top-Working by Budding. Buds may be inserted in the 

 trunk if the tree is small. The top will be formed at some point 

 above the insertion of the bud, and it is well to keep this in 

 mind in selecting the place on the stock. 



It is more common practice to bud the main branches, 

 usually on the upper side not far from the point of union with 

 the trunk, at the close of the first season^s growth in the 

 orchard (Fig. 148). 



Select a smooth place on the stock and make a T-shaped 

 slit through the bark (Fig. 149) . If the bark is in good condi- 



