The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-03
A Chapter on Budding.

time for budding is whenever the bark
of the stock separates readily from the
wood, or, in technical terms, ''tbe sap
runs" and when the shoot from which
the buds are to be removed is sufficiently
matured In the Middle States, from the
10Th of August to the 18th of September
is generally the proper time, although
trosts or even cold nights will frequently
check the flow of sap and cause the bark
to tighten. When the latter occurs, how
ever, 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 sea-
son some kinds of fruit trees, as the
peach, will be making an exceedingly
vigorous growth, so much so as to endan-
ger the success of the operation 10y 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 treat
ment.
The operation consists merely in trans
ferring the bud of some valuable variety
to any good, healthy stock. Having Sc
lected few partially rpened cions from
the variety we wish to perpetuate, trim
off the leaves, leaving about one-fourth
of an inch of the stem as a handle to
force the bud into position. With Il
sharp, thin-bladed knife, take off a bud
with portion of bark and wood attached,
entering about one-half inch below, and
emerging the same above the bud. Care
must be taken 10 perform this operation
very carefully, as too deep a cut gives us
too much wood, and, if too near the
bud, is liable to be injured. Some bud.
ders remove this thin piece of wood, al
though it is mostly allowed to remain.
The most extensive peach-tree growers
use only the bark, with the bud unim-
paired, and prepare it by making the
usual cut, only deeper than by the old
method, but in place of allowing the
kniie-bladc to emerge at the lower end
they withdraw it, and simply cut through
the bark at the point, when by the aid
of the thumb nail the bark and bud may
be readily removed.
The insertion of the bud is the SIM
plest part of the programme. ltconsists
in making II 7 shaped cut through the
bark of the stock, and gently pushing
the prepared bud into place; should the
bark prove somewhat tough, however,
the edges may be slightly raised, but
stocks in this condition must be regarded
with suspicion.
great deal depends upon tying prop
erly, rs | have known great many fail
ures from this cause alone; and it mat
tiers but little how carefully the bud is
cut or inserted. Should the string be tied
4 h, LAM I'll inf lao
majority of cases, fail ito take
The wrapping should be of some soft,
strong material, the inner bark of the
linden tree or Eastwood being preferred
by our nurserymen generally. This is
prepared by experienced persons during
the summer, and can be procured of any
nurseryman in small quantities. These
strings are stripped into narrow shreds
and well dampered. In tying the bud
into position, the string should always
be drawn lightly and evenly, covering up
every portion OF the cut in the stick, al
lowing only the bud to show, bringing
it closely in contact with the stem below,
and drawing it under the point of the
bud above. In about two weeks
the strings will begin to "cut in"
that l., the DARK VIII form Ill ridges
around the ligatures, owing to the com
preston of the latter, when they should
he slightly loosened, but not removed al
together; indeed they should remain in
place until late autumn, when they must
be cut to prevent freezing beneath.
The ensuing spring will determine
whether or not the operation has been
successful, as frequently the bud will APP
pear all right during winter, yet really
have very little vitality. Head back the
sticks to within three inches of the bud,
and as soon as the latter grows, tie 1t up
to prevent the wilma blowing it off. Some
of our most careful nurserymen stake up
their yearing buds, and ii at all rare the
practice is a good one. In private collec-
tons il should receive attention. The
subsequent pruning must be governed by
the purchase for which they are intend
ed. In any event the tips of the shoot
should he cut off to induce side branches
If for standard, cut slightly, but if
dwarts head back to Is or 20 inches.
Peaches will be tit for removal when one
wear old from the bud.-Josiah Hopes,
IN ". y. Tribune.