The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-15


} around the scion after its insertion II
the stock,and if the end and edges are
rubbed down firmly with the finger
they will not even require tying. by
this simple method the scion anu
stock are held securely in close con
tact, and air and water are excluded
while the process Of Junction is go
ing on; necessity,as we have already
seen, to It's success.
10 illustrate the difference, smear
ing with wax and binding with waxed
strips, we quote from writer IN a
New \ ork Raual publication; ne
bound part of his scions with strips
and on others used only wax: :.
Those wrapped with strips all
grew; OF the others about one hall
grew also many of the former grew
eight teet In one season, the waxed
ones, without the strips, not making
over half that growth. l claim that
there are absolutely many chances In
favor of the strips, over the other
way"
Even in the old method of regular
grating, where the whole top OF the
tree is cut off, these waxed strips are
just as much to be preferred over the
wax daubs as is budding. Try it and
see, and our word for it you will
never again set about this kind OF
work without plenty of waxed strips
at your side.
There is regular recipe for max
the grating wax most commonly
used; it is this: zone part bees-wax,
one part tallow two parts rosln;
melt together till thoroughly incor-
porated."
Now, it may bepresumptious in us
to NEEDLE with this time-honored
recipe, but still we will venture to
lnsinuate, with all due respect, that III
our own experience, the rosin may,
with advantage, either be ommitted
entirely, or else BIZ only halt as much
added TO the beeswax and taIlow, i'll.
stead of double as much. We find
that the strips dipped in the latter
only, are fully as effective, and far
more agreeable to handle; neither
do they. as some claim, become
rancid without the rosin.
Lastly, very sharp pointed, thin
bladed knife is necessary, and now
we are ready to select our scions,
which, as we have elsewhere stated,
must be taken IRON, as well as in
serted in, growing plant.
Considerable Judgment must be
exercised i'll tuIS selection, as a
"stick" of buds may be either too old
or too young. 1t is too old If the
shooL taken be OF more than years
growth; to young if it be not fully
matured-the woody parts hardened
and the embryo bud developed be-
meath the axiIl@ OF the leaf. 1t is
always best to use the growth of the
current season. just as soon as this
stage of maturity has been reached,
and short experience will enable
you TO Judge accurately, when this
point has been attained.
These remarks apply to all sclons
whether orange, lemon, peach, plum,
apple, or any other OF the great veg~
etable tribe.
And now, at last, we come to the
practical details of the actual art, tor
it is an art, OF budding.
There are several modes OF intro
ducing the scion to the stock; of
these there is ole largely practiced,
we are sorry to say, that cannot be
reprehended too severely. A man
cuts off short stick containing two
OF three buds, shapes one end to a
fiat point, like a pen, then makes a
little cut crosswise in the stock,
thrusts the 'pen-bud" down Into the
slit, and passes on to scar another
tree and waste another bud, boastlng
OF how many he can do in an hour.
True, it is quick way Of playing at
budding-in one sense-bnt when,
by and by, he comes back again and
again to replace dead buds and search
tor fresh spots on the poor, devoted
stock, where It's once smooth bark is
not at all roughened and scared by
old wounds; If then, we repeat he
will only keep count OF the time thus
) occupied after the work should have
been completed, and the time lost in
the growth Of the buds while the sea.
son Is passing reientlessly on, he will
come to the conclusion that little
more time and care in the first place,
would have been time and trouble
saved, and loss OF buds, and OF the
growing season saved also. And
, therefore we would Danish the ''pen-