18 BULLETIN 3 3, PORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION" 



Macerate the pulp and squeeze the juice out through a piece of muslin 

 and weigh the two separately. A tabulation of the data obtained 

 in this manner will yield valuable information. 



BUDDING 



The nursery trees are ready to bud when they are large enough, at 

 6 inches from the ground, to hold a bud. About 6 inches is the 

 proper height to insert the bud; by budding lower the tree may 

 become increasingly susceptible to foot rot, and budding higher is 

 of no advantage. 



The operation of budding is familiar to most growers. The main 

 points to be remembered are that the knife must be sharp, and the 

 bud must be cut at a slant from the base to the tip of the knife blade 

 in order that the wood may not split. (Fig. 9.) Adhesive bud- 

 ding tape which readily sheds water should be used instead of 



Figure 9. — Method of shield budding : A, Cutting the hud ; B, bud ; C, making the in- 

 cision ; D, bud partly inserted ; E, bud wrapped 



twine in wrapping the buds. The wrapping is usually partly re- 

 moved a week or 10 days after the operation, and the bud if alive 

 will be ready for forcing a few days later. Forcing consists in 

 girdling the stock 2 or 3 inches above the bud, or cutting the stock 

 partly off and lopping the top over. Some growers prefer to cut 

 the stock partly off and lop the top and others prefer to sever the 

 whole stock a few inches above the bud. The whole stock should be 

 removed only when the seedling is growing vigorously, however. As 

 soon as the bud starts growth it should be fastened to a stake placed 

 beside each tree. Frequent tying is needed to insure straight growth. 

 After two or three months the stock should be cut off smoothty, 

 slanting from the bud downward. All these details are very im- 

 portant. As a result of their having been neglected in the past, many 

 of the nursery trees on the island are undesirable. Given proper 

 attention as regards irrigation, cultivation, fertilization, and all other 

 details, a first-class budded tree may be produced in less than two 

 years from seed. Abnormally small or defective trees should be 



