CHESTNUT CULTURE I\ THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. I05 



tliat the sap of the chestnut does not start as early as that of apples, pears and 

 other succulent fruit, and hence grafting should be done later. 



The stump sprouts should be cut off and the scions inserted some three to four 

 feet from the ground, so as to kecji the heads low. Where there is a circle of 

 sprouts around a stump the ones which start nearest the ground should always be 

 chosen, because they root in more firmly and are less liable to damage by the wind 

 In a group of sprouts, such as spring from one stump, only one or two are grafted; 

 but the rest are left during the first year as a protection to the young grafts. 

 Where sprouts are plentiful grafts should be put in every 12 to 15 feet or from 200 

 to 400 per acre, care being taken to leave no open spots or any unnecessary group- 

 ing. As the trees grow and expand the poor and crowded specimens should be 

 removed to make room for the better trees. If small seedlings appear they should 

 also be grafted. 



Many mistakes have been made in grafting, and as it is a most important phase 

 of chestnut growing, in fact, the basis of success, too much care cannot be given to 

 this part of the work. If well done ninety per cent of the grafts should live. An 

 experienced man should set 250 scions per day, and do it well. In whip or tongue 

 grafting the stock and scion should be of as nearly the same diameter as possible, 

 and the cut on each long and smooth and made with a thin, very sharp knife. Each 

 should then be cut vertically so as to leave a wedge-shaped piece on the face of each 

 cut, so that the tongue of the scion may be forced firmly into the cleft of the stock. 

 The union should be exact, so that the inner side of the bark on each will coincide 

 at least on one side. The joint should be thoroughly waxed, and as a further 

 precaution wrapped tightly with waxed muslin. The muslin holds everything firm, 

 thus hastening the union of the cambium layers. It excludes air from the cracks in 

 the wax caused by the e.xpanding sprout, and gives a mechanical support which 

 prevents breakage of the joint by the wind. The yearly growth of grafts when 

 thus treated is quite remarkable. When two months old they are often two to 

 three feet in length, while it is recorded that one specimen grew in one year a linear 

 distance of 54 feet, counting the main axis and all the lateral branches. The writer 

 measured one graft which had been inserted 14 days and found it to be ten inches 

 long. The first year's growth is inclined to assume a fan-shaped form, and not 

 make a well-rounded crown ; hence it has been found advantageous to cut back the 

 first year's growth in the fall so that only a stub three to four inches long, contain- 

 ing two to three buds, remains. The following year these buds will grow into a 

 well-rounded head. 



An interesting fact is that many of the European chestnuts will grow equally 



