Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-08-12
agricultural. =
BUDDING.

and plums, and sometimes with apples
and pears, one may begin in July, and
peaches do well in September. The
criterion in regard TO the time is, that
the bud TO be inserted is well formed
and that the bark peals freely on both
the scion from which the bud is taken,
and the stock into which it is inserted.
The STocK. Cut twigs, as for graft
ing, from bearing trees, the growth of
the present season, and with buds well
formed at the bottom Of the leaf-stalk.
Cut off the leaves Immediately, leaving
the leaf stalks TO handle the buds by.
Choose twigs of vigorous growth, from
the end of bearing limbs.
The PROCESS. Select smooth place
in the stock Tin small stocks quite near
the ground, } and make a perpendicular
slit quite through the bark, an inch long.
AT the upper end of the slit, make cut
across it, extending say an eighth of an
inch on each side Of it, so as TO allow the
bark to. peel up freely TO admit the bud.
Take your stick of buds, and rejecting
three or four of the lower ones, enter
your knife half an inch above good
bud, and cut it out, with thin strip of
the wood say half an inch long, immedi-
ately under the bud, bringing the knife
out half or three lourths of an inch be-
low the bud. Put this between your
lips and with the thin handle of your
budding knife, carefully raise the bark
where you have made your incsion.-
Then take the bud by the leaf stock and
quickly insert it, entering it at the cross
incision and pushing it downwards I'M
der the bark hearty its whole length; or
so as TO leave an eighth of an inch above
the cross cut. Cut it off square with the
cross cut, and by a gentle pressure as
sure yourself that the bark of the stock
and that of the bud are in contact at the
top Tie it with moist bass mating, corn
husks, wooden yarn, or something of the
sort; and the work is done:
AFTER TREATMENT. In about ten
days it is generally necessary TO take off
or loosen the ligature, on account of the
swelling of the stock ; and by that time
the bud will have formed its connection
with the stock. In the spring, as soon
as the bud begins to swell, the stock
should be cut off two or three inches a.
bove it; and as it grows, it is sometimes
necessary to tie the new shoot to the
stump of the stock TO insure its upright
growth. At midsummer the stock may
be cut off close.
REMARKS.
l. The practice has been till lately to
take out the narrow strip of wood, which
is cut off with the bud. Some practice
it still, and we think the work is more
neat and perfect where it is perfectly
done in that way. In doing this, care
must be taken that the root OF the bud
is left uninjured. IT, after removing the
wood, there is hole opposite the bud,
it is worthless and must be thrown away.
The insertion of the bud without remoy-
ing the wood, saves this trouble, and is
now the more general practice in this
country.
9. Care must be taken not to injure
the soft organizing matter under the bark
of the stock, when raising the bark or
pushing in the bud.
3. The work can be done with any
knife that is sharp enough. For raising
the bark the operators thumb nail will
generally answer, and needs only TO be
placed at the slit, and pressed gently
against the sides near the top, at the
same time raising the bark from the
wood.
4. In tying, the object is to keep the
bark of the bud in contact with the soft
organizing matter Of the stock. This is
best done by using two ligatures, one TO
Tie it below and The other above the bud.
1t is better completely to cover the in.
cision with the lSatures, so as to ex-
clude the air, leaving only the bud and
the leai-stock exposed. In working
some kinds Of -plums, the Green Gage,
for instance, if the wood is taken out,
care is taken SO to adjust the lga,ure
that it shall be sure to press the root of
the bud upon the stock. TO insure the
best success, the bark of the bud must
be pressed equally upon the stock its
whole length. Too light binding, how
ever, may be fatal.
5. 1t is better TO bud in cloudy wealth
er, or IN the morning or evening, to a
void the drying influence Of the midday
sun.
3. Some recommend that buds be in
serted on the north side of the stock, for
the sake of shade Others, on the south
side, TO insure a more rapid growth. A
more important point is, the form of the
stock, which often presents such crook
or inclination as to allow the insertion of
the bud so as TO insure itself lis erect
growth without further trouble
7. Pears will grow, budded on the
apple, ounce, thorn, or mountain ash
They cannot be relied on to thrive per-
manently, however, upon the apple or
ash. When worked upon the ounce or
thorn, they come sooner into bearing,
but are dwaried and not so long lived.