Material. Bud sticks, stocks of the peach or willow. Apparatus. Raffia or grafting-cord, budding-knife.

Flute Budding

Flute budding is a form of budding ocasionally employed on certain plants. It differs from the other forms in that a portion of the bark is removed entirely from the stock and a similar piece is fitted into its place. The section of bark removed extends only part of the way around the stem (Fig. 23).

Secure a small branch about one half to five eighths of an inch in diameter, and with the budding-knife remove a section of the bark about one inch in length and about one third of the diameter of the stock in width. The cut necessarily varies somewhat in size, according to the size of the stock which is to be budded, but the usual size is about one inch in length and from one third to one half of the distance around the stock. Now remove a piece of bark containing a healthy, vigorous bud and cut it to the exact size of the wound on the stock. Do not remove any wood with the bark containing the bud. Place the bud over the wounded surface on the stock and tie it firmly. The operation is now complete. Make a drawing of the stock, four inches in length, showing the front and side views. Label all parts, and give the dimensions of the cut surface. Make a natural-size drawing of the bud. Label and describe.

Fig. 23. Flute budding, showing the stock and the bud.

Ring, Or Annular, Budding

This is a modification of flute budding, the difference being that the portion of bark removed extends entirely around the stock, forming a ring; hence the name. The same size stocks should be used as for flute budding.

Secure stocks of the same size as in flute budding, and with the budding-knife remove a ring of bark, about one inch in length, from the stock. Secure the plant from which you wish to bud, and remove a piece of the bark bearing a healthy bud, the same size as the wound on the stock. The bark bearing the bud should be split lengthwise on the side opposite the bud. The bud should occupy the central portion of the bark. Why? Make a drawing of the stock, natural size, and four inches in length, showing the portion of bark removed. Label, and give the dimensions of the bud. Make a natural-size drawing of the bud, showing the ring character. Label. Discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of this method.

Fig. 24. Ring budding.

A, stock, showing the ring of bark removed;

B, hud ready to he placed on the stock

Fig. 25. Chip budding, showing the cut in the stock and the bud ready to be inserted.

Chip Budding

This is a form of budding that is used when the stock is dormant and the bark will not slip. The chip bearing the bud is held in place by tying or, still better, by the use of grafting-wax.

Secure small stocks the same as those employed in flute budding and make an incision into the stock similar to that in Fig. 25. The cut in the stock should be smooth, clean, and even, and about one inch in length and from three eighths to one half of an inch in width. The depth of the cut should not exceed one eighth of an inch, and the bud when inserted should be flush with the bark of the stock. Now with the budding-knife remove the bud with sufficient wood so that it will fit snugly into the cut made in the stock. It is important that at least two sides of the bud should be in close apposition with the sides of the stock and that the cambium layers of the bud and the stock should meet at several points.

Make a drawing of the stock, four inches in length, showing the front and the side views. Draw a front and a side view of the bud, give the dimensions, and label. Discuss the operation and tell what kind of plants are propagated by this method.