The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-11-01
PrOpagating BY Budding.


err of fruit trees.
Amorg the several methods en-
ployed in the propagation Of fruits
and the perpetuation of varieties,
none occupies more important place
than that of budding.
The art of perpetuating varieties of
fruits by grating and by layering was
understood by the ancients, almost
as early as we have any authentic
history. Budding was introduced for
the same purpose at a much later peri
cd. This method was but little prac.
ticed in our our own country until
within a comparatively recent period.
Many of the early settlers brought
seeds with them from the old coun-
try, and from these he gradually OBJ
tanned orchards Of seeding fruits
and our people depended mainly up
on these until enterprising individQ-
ais began to introduce the European
sorts, and to perpetuate these, and
some of the best American seedlings,
by budding and grating. Soon nur-
series from the growth OF fruit and
ornamental plants began to spring up
in various places, and the facilities for
obtaining choice fruits have been ex-
tended, until now no one thinks Of
planting any other than budded or
grated fruit trees. Without the
knowledge of some such simple and
easy method Of increasing the NUNS
Der Of any given variety OF fruit trees
as the practice of budding and graft
ing affords, it would be utterly tins
possible to supply the millions Of
trees now required every year for
planting. II our whole dependence
rested upon seeding plants, our sup.
ply OF choice fruits would he exceed
ingly limited,
/ hardly need remark that budding
has 10 tendency to improve any var
iety OF fruit !; much less has it any
power TO produce new varieties. AS
before intimated the object Of buds
ding is simply to perpetuate certain
desirable varieties, aud to Increase
the number of trees and plants as cir
cumstances may require. Important
as the art of budding in the propaga.
ton Of fruit trees and other plants,
yet it has limitations. We cannot
bud the rose on the lilac, nor the or,
ange on the pear, All varieties OF
the same species may be budded ups
on each other INTERCHANGEABLE under
all circumstances. Beyond this there
is more or less uncertainty, and it is
not easy to fix the exact limit within
which budding may be employed with
any certainty OF success. Those
species OF plants most nearly allied
may be most safely intermingled by
budding. The plum and the apricot
may be budded upon each other with
good degree OF success. So, too,
most varieties ofthe plum and prune,
and also of the apricot grow we'll and
bear well upon peach stocks; yet
there are some exceptionsto this rule.
A few varieties Of the plum refuse to
assimilate with the peach. The pear
also, may lee grown on the ounce;
but the rule is limited TO few vari-
cites all others succeeded better
when budded upon their own stock.
The proper time to bud trees and
plants varies with circumstances, It
may be performed al any time OF the
year when good buds can be obtain
ed, and when, at tee same time. the
stocks or branches that are to receive
the beds are in proper condition OF
growth to receive them. Those who
carry Oh large nursery operations
generally bud their young trees early
in the autumn, or as late as they can
safely depend upon a proper condit~
ion of the plants to be budded.
The art OF budding as d mere me-
chanical process, is very simple. The
novice may acquire it by a few les
sons with any experienced builder.
The buds should be used soon after
being taken from the parent tree,
though they may be preserved Ia
good condition for several days with
proper care. The whole process
should be quichu done. The bark
the bud cat from the ".bud
sticky quickly but carefully pushed
intoits place the igature bound mod
erateiy tight and tied, and the pros
cess is done.
Whenever the ligature begins to
cause indentioUs in the stock by rea.
son Of The growth of lhe Latter. the
VIZ pmng must be cut OF loosened.
Bad 50 put in are expected to re-
main dormant until the succeeding
spring, and nothing more If ncediul
to be done except TO keep She stock