BUDDED FRUIT TREES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

BUDDED FRUIT TREES.

NEED FOR ATTENTION.

Trees that were budded during the past iliirl previous month will need to be frequently looked over to seo that the tics are not cutting into tho wood, so as to injure the buds. This often happens with rapidly-growing stocks, so that catcful watching is necessary to seo thai, the tics are slackened or removed as soon as the union is complete. Budding can still bo done if the sap is activo and tho bark will rise freely from the wood. Budding is the most simple method of propagating fruit trees, and as it can bo performed at the time when tho fruit is in season mistakes are not likoly to bo made as to tho varieties required. Most orchards, no matter how carefully the selection lias been made, will have some varieties that arc not quite what is desired. This, unfortunately, is not found out until tho trees havo attained tho fruiting stage, which is itself a considerable loss, but if tho tree is destroyed, instead of being renewed either by budding or grafting, a much longer period must elapse before young, newlyplanted trees attain to a fruiting stage. So long as a tree, is healthy, budding a < tho right- time with the variety wanted will, in many instances, produce a new fruitful head in about two years, provicling reasonable cultivation is givon. oo long as trees arc in a healthy condition, whether they nro largo or small, they may be successfully budded, the system of budding adopted being the sanio in cvciy case.