Mr. Southwick,
The art of inoculating or budding fruit trees, (although the
simplest and easiest of all things,) appears to be deemed a mystery
by most of our farmers, and is too generally neglected, under
a belief that it is a difficult or expensive operation. If the
following short directions should prove the means of changing even
one thorn bush into a pear or quince tree, I shall be fully paid for
the trouble of scribbling them down.
In the month of August and fore part of September, cut from the tree
you wish to increase some of the young wood of the last summer's
growth, (the cuttings should be thrifty and healthy) cut the leaves
off, leaving about half an inch of the foot stalk on the cutting;
at the foot, and immediately above the foot stalk, _lies the bud_;
with a keen knife begin to cut half an inch above the bud, and bring
out the knife a little below, taking about half the woody substance
with it; then separate the bark from the wood, carefully observing
that the bud be not injured in the operation. If the operation be
properly performed, the bud will be separated from the wood, and
remain unbroken and entire in the bark: this bark and bud is now
to be speedily inserted into the tree you wish to change. Choose a
smooth spot in some young and healthy branch, or sprout, and with a
keen knife cut gently through the bark, about one inch in length,
and a small cross cut near the upper end; separate the bark gently
from the wood at this cross cut, being careful not to wound the bark
or wood, and immediately insert the bud, laying it smooth and even
under the bark of the tree; with a string of bass wood bark, or
woollen yarn, tie it in so as to hold it close to the wood, being
careful not to injure the bud nor foot stock--and the operation is
done.--In two or three weeks after, the bud will have united to
the wood, and the tyings should be loosened or taken away. The
bud will remain dormant until the next spring. In April following,
they should be examined, and if the buds then appear healthy and
vigorous, the branch should be cut off immediately above the bud,
and removed: in a few weeks this bud will take place of the old
branch, and in two years produce fruit of the kind you wish.
By this simple operation, the ordinary sour peach tree, which is an
incumberer of the ground, may be made to yield the delicious Rare
Ripe, the Early Ann, or other favourite peaches; or may be converted
into a plum tree: and the ordinary _wild plum tree_ may be made to
yield the richest and most delicious of our cultivated plums and
peaches; our thorn bushes may be made to yield the rich and luscious
pear; and our crab apple stalks be loaded with the finest varieties
of our cultivated apples and cherries; apricots and nectarines are
equally susceptible of improvement by the same easy means; nay, our
wild gooseberry bushes may be converted into the best varieties, and
our native grape may be made to yield an elegant dessert fruit.--All
which I know by