The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-06

under the title Budding Fruit Trees"
Also to an extract from an article over
the signature of "Cape," publish he'd in
the Weekly Neaos of the 4th July last:
"For budding to be successful the buds
used must be plump and e0eH Developed
and the bark of the stock peel easily.
Only: wood buds will do, these being
sharp pointed, while blossom buds are
shorter and more rounded; little OBJ
servation will teach the difference. The
proper season extends here from 1st of
July till October. Select q smooth por-
tion on the stem of the stock, free from
knots, near the ground, and make an up
right cut through the bark one and half
inches long and another across its top, so
that both together will resemble the let
ter T. Then taking shoot from the tree
we wish to bud from, enter the edge of
very sharp thin bladcd knife half an inch
above the bud to be removed, slicing off
with it narrow strip of bark, with very
small thin shaving Of wood directly be.
meath the bud ). the whole portion removed
being about one inch and quarter long.
Then raise slightly the upper portion of
the upright edges in the cut, and very
gently insert the edges of the bark of the
bud beneath these upright edges, down
to the bottom of the cut; in doing so hold
ing on to the leaf stalk of the bud, the
leaf being first removed. Cut off square
with the cross cut above any of the bark
of the bud which may be too long. Now
wind sohite wool yarn firmly and evenly
around the stock 80 as to press closely lie
moist side of the bark and wood Of the
sliced bud to the moist surface of the
wood of the stock in the cut, and cover
completely from the air the cut parts, only
leaving the bud itself untouched and ex-
posed to the light. Just before the yarn
begins to cut into the bark-in the peach
about ten days or two weeks, the apple
little later-it must be loosened and re-
wound the same as before; being re-
moved for good when commencing to cut
again. In two weeks, if the bud has
taken, it will be plump and fresh; ifnot,
will be dried, when the budding can be
repeated. The bud can be forced to
shoot the same season if put in early, by
cutting off the stock one foot above as
soon as it has fairly taken, keeping all
other shoots rubbed off.
While it is very doubtful whether any
written communication can be made sufi-
ciently plain to enable new hand toput
in buds correctly, it is quite certain these
two articles present the main points to be
observed in performing the process.
My practical experience, however, does
not entirely approve all the suggestions
made by either of the writer's. For in
stance, the "bag mating" or the "yarn
string" may answer very we'll as band
age, yet in their absence the bark of a
mulberry sprout, strip of cloth, or the
bark peeled from a peach tree sprout,
answer just as we'll.
Another more important item is not
mentioned by either of these writer's, and
that is, what shall be done with the strip
of wood cut off with the bud The sur
face to which you wish to apply your
bud is round, but the surface of your bud
is fiat, which would decrease the chances
of getting the bud to live. To remedy
this difficulty: when you cut your bud
from its place, turn its fat side up, hold
ing it between the thumb and forefnger
of the left hand, with the thumb nail of
the right hand gently press the bark
downward from the wood, then insert
your knife blade between the wood and
bark, with the right thumb on the wood
and peel out the wood. Then you have
two surfaces that will fit each other, and
the chances of securing a living bud is
increased ten fold. The propriety of re-
moving the wood from the bud is very
seriously questioned by some fruit grow
ers, and these writers may belong to that
class.
Among other objections they say the
bud may grow, but will not bear fruit.
This is certainly not true as to peaches,
for have buds growing and bearing as
fine fruits as the country affords. And
the same course is practiced by all the
fruit builders of my acquaintance, and
the success of many of them is over
whelmingly established by the samples
lately exhibited at the Anderson Fair.
And this reminds US that there is at this
time very considerable awakening on
the subject of fruit growing among our
farmers. And surely, if any one class in
preference to another has prescriptive
right to enjoy the improved juicy favor
of the native fruit trees, it is the farmer;
and if he fails to secure the delicacy of
the lovely Beatrice, the Loise, the China
Cling and an host of others, it is his own
fault.
The process of budding is artistic, me-
chanical and scientific, and hence well
adapted as a source of pleasure as well
as profit, to every variety of mind. We
have known ladies and boys to perform
the process of budding correctly with
ease, dispatch and neatness. Every man,
woman and boy on plantation should
Immediately acquire the knowledge
necessary to perpetuate the growth of
fine fruits. The most expeditions mode
of mastering the process, is to witness the
operation by some moderately skilled
person. All Grange men are construc-
lively by farmers, and hence all Grangers
should understand and practice this pro-
cess of budding.
I have written this much, more to
keep the importance of fruit culture be-
fore the people, than from any assumption
mt