The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-08-30
A Chapter ON Budding.

IOr D0uOlng Is, whenever the Dark OF the
stock separates readily from the wood, or,
in technical terms, the sap runs" and
when the shoot from which the buds are
to be removed is sufficiently matured. In
the Middle States, from the 18th of August
to the 18th of September is generally the
proper time, although frosts or even cold
nights will frequently check the flow of
sap and cause the bark to tighten. When
the latter occurs, however, a thorough
stirring of the soil around the stock will
usually cause the bark again to loosen,
provided warmer weather again sets in.
Early in the season some kinds of fruit
trees, as the peach, will be making an ex-
ceedingly vigorous growth, so much SO as
to endanger the success of the operation
by the excess Of sap. The latter may be
checked by simply pinching off the tips
of the growing shoots. Mahaleb cherry
stocks are especially benefited by this
treatment.
The operation consists merely in trans
ierring the bud of some valuable variety
TO any good, healthy stock. Having Sc.
lected few partially ripened cions from
the variety we wish to perpetuate, trim off
the leaves, leaving about one-fourth of an
inch of the stem as handle to force the
bud into position. With a sharp, thin
bladed knife, take off bud with por-
ton of bark and wood attached, entering
about one-half inch below, and emerging
the same above the bud. Care must be
taken to perform this operation very care
fully, as too deep cut gives US too much
wood, and, if too near the bud, is liable
to he injured. Some builders remove this
thin piece of wood, although it is mostly
allowed to remain. The most extensive
peach.tree growers use only the bark,
with the bud unimpaired, and prepare it
by making the usual cut, only deeper
than by the old method, but in place of
allowing the knife-blade to emerge at the
lower end, they withdraw it, and simply
cut through the bark at that point, When
by the aid of the thumb-nail the bark and
bud may be readily removed.
The insertion OF the bud is the simplest
part Of the programme. 1t consists in
making T-shaped cut through the bark
of the stock, and gently pushing the pre-
pared bud into place; should the bark
prove somewhat tough, however, the
edges may be slightly raised; but stocks
In this condition must be carried with
suspicion.
A great deal depends upon tying prop
erly, aS nave Known very many Iall.
ures from this cause alone; and it mat
tiers but little how carefully the bud is
cut or inserted, should the string be tied
loosely or carelessly the bud will, In the
majority of cases. fail Ito take"
The wrapping should be of some soft,
strong material, the inner bark of the lin
den tree, or Eastwood being preferred by
our nurserymen generally This is pre-
ferred by experienced persons during the
summer, and can be procured by any
nurseryman in small quantities. These
strings are stripped into narrow shreds
and well dampened. In tying the bud
into position the string should always be
drawn lightly and evenly, covering up ev-
cry portion of the cut in the stick, allow.
ing only the bud to show, bringing 1t
closely in contact with the stem below.
and drawing It under the point OF the bud