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FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
mulch from the day the tree is planted 
which will force a deeper root system; 
or use a mulch of organic matter such as 
leaves, compost, etc. This will bring 
feeding roots to the surface, and the dan¬ 
ger is that, in a dry spell, unless mulch 
is very heavy, trees will soon show bad 
effects from lack of moisture. However, 
in well drained land, for the first two 
years after planting, an Avocado tree 
should have water in anticipation of its 
wants. 
In propagating it would perhaps show 
wisdom to engage some one who has dem¬ 
onstrated his ability along this line (but 
perhaps you desire to do this part your¬ 
self), very well. Make sure your stock 
is in thrifty, vigorous condition; do not 
allow the stock to become too large and 
the bark to harden before budding, as 
under such conditions failure is almost 
certain. With the stock in proper shape, 
select bud wood from the last growth (va¬ 
rieties differ, but usually best results are 
obtanied from fairly mature wood), just 
before it is ready to start a new growth. 
The actual manual performance of 
budding should be similar to shield bud¬ 
ding of the citrus, either in form of a T 
or an inverted T. Personally I use the 
T, believing it will form a union nearer 
the ground. The bud being carefully 
placed in position, should be at once tight¬ 
ly wrapped with a strip of waxed cloth, 
covering the entire bud except the eye. 
Be sure and fasten the end of the cloth, 
as it is necessary to keep the bud wrapped 
for a longer length of time than with cit¬ 
rus. After wrapping, judgment must be 
used to determine whether the stock plant 
needs the growth slightly checked by cut¬ 
ting away, say two or three leaves near 
the top of plant. This depends somewhat 
on whether propagation is in the open or 
under half shade. 
Two weeks after the buds are inserted, 
depending somewhat on weather condi¬ 
tions, look them over carefully and if the 
bud is alive, cut off three or four inches 
of the tip of stock. In another ten days 
if found alive, judgment must be used in 
removing axillary buds from the stock, or 
perhaps taking out a half inch section of 
bark from the stock about one inch di¬ 
rectly above the bud. This will usually 
force the bud into growth, at which time 
the waxed cloth must be loosened above 
the eye of bud; but do not fully remove 
budding cloth until growth is well started. 
A point to remember is, if stock growth 
is checked too heavily, the eye is almost 
sure to fall from the bud and all your la¬ 
bor is' lost. After the bud has made its 
first growth and the wood is maturing, 
the stock should be cut back further, 
tying bud to stem of seedling and remov¬ 
ing sprouts, thus forcing all growth to 
the bud. While dormant during the fol¬ 
lowing winter, stake the bud and remove 
the seedling stub, covering the cut sur¬ 
face with grafting wax. 
In conclusion would suggest that every¬ 
one in the citrus section should plant 
Avocado trees of each of the three races 
for home use at least; someone sometime 
will thank you for doing so. 
