BUDDING FRUIT TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

BUDDING FRUIT TREES.

HINTS FOR GROWERS. Any fruit trees budded during the past month should be occasionally looked over, for if growing freely there is always a risk of the ties cutting into the wood and injuring the buds, even after a union is formed. Much, of course, will depend upon the condition of the trees when worked. As a rule the older fruit-bearing trees are the first to stop growing and are in consequenco the first to need budding. Directions havo already been given in previous notes for budding and the condition of growth the trees should bo in io secure the best results. The measure of success altained depends almost entirely upon the slock and scion being suited to each other and the operation being performed whilo the sap is active so that tho bark is easily raised for the insertion of the buds. One great advantage of this method of propagation is that with several varieties of fruit trees greater success is attained by budding than by grafting. This is particularly the case with peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums, for while all may be grafted with more or less success by the skilled operator the amateur, for whom these remarks are chiefly intended, will find that with the varieties mentioned budding is the simplest and most successful method to adopt in renewing or changing the varieties required. Time for Budding. Another great advantage of budding is that, it requires to be done during the fruiting season when successes or failures are fresh in the minds of tho growers and when more approved and more profitable kinds can be selected for reworking. It is surprising how a tree that, has failed to make satisfactory growth can often he reinvigorated by budding or grafting with some other strong, vigorous growing variety. The whole character of the stock appears to alter with 1 lie strength and vigour of (he scion. The character of the stock can bo changed by the variety of scion worked upon. This is proved by working such plants as loquats and photenias, which are both evergreen trees, upon the quince stock, which is deciduous, thus showing a complete change in the root system, as the stock, though a deciduous tree, must remain active, throughout the whole year to supply the necessary sap to enable the tree to retain its evergreen characteristics. Matter of Flavour. It may- be asked whether by budding a plum upon the peach stock, or vice versa, or pear upon the quince, does the fruit take any of the flavour of the variety used as a stock. The reply to such a question is that although the scion may strengthen and alter the character of the stock the fruit produced from the scion remains unchanged. The period for budding depends so much upon the condition of the stock to be worked that no fixed time can be stated. Older stocks invariably cease to grow many weeks before younger and more vigorous growing trees. In seasons such as the present, especially after such a long dry spell, careful watching will be necessary in ordea- to perform the operation while the trees are in the best stage for working.