Budding operations may be performed at any time during the season; but dull cloudy weather, and morning or evening, are most suitable. If the branch, containing Buds, cannot be obtained as required for use, the ends may be placed in water, to keep them fresh; but unnecessary delay should be avoided.
FIG. 290.
FIG. 291.
Stocks for Budding upon. For the Cherry, the Wild Gean, and seedlings from the Morello. make capital stocks for tall trees and those of moderate growth; and the Mahaleb, or Perfumed Cherry, for small trees for pots, bushes, pyramids, or cordons. For the Plum, the Mussel, Mirabelle, Magnum Bonum, St. Julian, &c., are mostly used for stocks, the Mirabelle being best for small trees. Peaches and Nectarines are generally budded on the Mussel, St. Julian, or Mirabelle Plums; the last are best for dwarfs. The Apricot is budded on the Mussel or Mirabelle Plums, for small plants; and the St. Julian Plum for standards. In France, the Damas Noir, or Black Damask, and the Cerisette, are also used. They should all be raised from seeds, and not from suckers. Seeds for raising plants for stocks may be sown as soon as ripe; but where quantities are used, the stones are thrown into heaps, so as to slightly ferment during winter. In the spring, they are sown in drills or beds, and transplanted the next year in rows 2ft. or 3ft. apart. and 10in. or 12in. from plant to plant. The dwarfs are generally budded the second year, and the standards the third or fourth. Dwarf trees are budded from within a few inches of the ground to 1ft. above; standards and riders from 3ft. to 9ft.; cordons, pyramids, &c., can hardly be budded too low.
Rose Budding. Propagation of Roses by Budding is very extensively practised both with standard trees and dwarf plants. It is perhaps easier and more certain to succeed with these than with fruit trees; but the mode adopted is precisely the same—that of the shield-shaped Bud with the core, or root, and the bark attached. For standards, the common briar of the Dog Rose is the best. The earlier these are obtained and planted in November, the better, as roots are then formed at once. For dwarf plants, the Manetti stock is mostly used, being easily obtained and had in proper condition almost at any time when Buds are ready. Plants on this stock do not succeed in all soils, and suckers are also very liable to be produced. Budding on the seedling briar is attended with good results, and is practised more than hitherto. The De la Grifferaie stock is also used, more for Tea Roses than others, and is considered by some to produce better plants than the Manetti. The shoots on standard briars should be reduced to about three of the strongest, selected as close together as possible, and near the top, the briars having been previously cut back the desired height at planting time. Two Buds are sufficient for a good head; but, for certainty, three may be inserted. Fig. 291 represents a tall briar with three shoots; a shows the shoot slit for the Bud; b, the Bud inserted; c, the Bud tied in. Fig. 292 is a branch showing Buds, the lowest ones of which are most suitable, being in firmer wood. Those at the top are often useless. Fig. 293 represents a Bud taken from Fig. 292, a, b, and Fig. 294 gives an idea of how the wood is removed. As previously remarked when describing the system, experienced Budders remove the wood from either end. Fig. 294 shows its removal from the lower end.
FIG. 292.