The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-06
BUDDING OF WALNUT
TREES IS DESCRIBED
Oregon State College Published
Results of Experiments in
This Line

While the walnut orchard is not so
common here as in Oregon, good
many acres in the aggregate have
been set out to the tree in the Yaki-
ma country, and if the trees already
planted come into bearing and prove
profitable. it is sure that the planting
of nuts will be increased in this sec
ton. The oregon agricultural college
has been making experiment for the
past few years in methods of budding
the walnut, and has Just published a
bulletin containing results which will
be of interest to nurserymen and to
ranchers who have experimental
walnut orchards of their own.
Hard to Get Union
Difficulties confronting the nur-
serymap and orchardist alike in the
propaga ton of the best varieties of
the English walnut have been num-
erous. In general the percentage of
unions have been small, though vari-
Gus budding and grating processes
were employed and the consequence
has been a highpriced tree. The
Oregon college has found, however,
that by combination of old princi-
pies adapted to new subjects and con-
ditions, using ordinary care, good
buds and one-year-old Seeding, at
least 20 to 80 per cent of the buds
should take and form satisfactory
trees.
California Black Best
Among the stock employed are the
English the American black and hy-
brid between the California black
a. l,N Iis,I a.
has proved best for such conditions as
are found near Corvallis and on some
OF the hill soils of the Willamette
valley. and the English the least de-
sirable. The hybrid is frequently
used. but is not always dependable.
The Oregon horticulturists have
found that using year-old buds. in
stead of those of the current year,
gives best results. These buds are
found at the base of the current years
growth The use of only plump buds
which have remained dormant is
recommended. 1t is also possible to
use buds from cion wood cut durin Z
the winter or very early spring when
it is In perfectly dormant state. II
such cions are placed In moist sand
for a couple of weeks before the bud
ding is done the buds may be easily
removed. There is some additional
labor in using tn cion buds, but on
the whole there are more plump
available buds than where the buds
are taken later in the season, when
the more desirable ones have broken
into shoots.
Head Back Trees
The hinge bud and the flute bud are
described in detail in the bulletin. IL
the budding has been done in June
or earlier and the buds are to be
started into growth the same year,
the trees should be headed off at the
/ time the rafiia is removed from the
| buds, which is about two weeks after
the budding. Cut off the stock about
two inches above the bud, allowing
the top to remain at one side by a
small piece of wood or bark. These
tops should be broken over and laid
overlapping each other in the row,
thus providing shade to the buds and
aiding in the carrying off of excess
sap ana preventing to n considerable
extent an excessive sprouting from
the root In about two weeks, when
the cion bud should have started into
active growth. the tops should be re-
moved entirely close TO the bud. In
sections subject to high winds, the
young shoots should be staked. All
buds and shoots from the stalk should
be taken off, as they are a material
drain on the reserve food supply in
the stock
If the budding has been done lnte in
the season SO that the trees can not be
| headed back before August /. such
| heading back had best be deferred
luntil the following spring. just about
the time that the growth starts.