﻿101 
  

  

  TOP-WORKING 
  LARGE 
  WALNUT 
  TREES 
  

  

  W. 
  C. 
  R;eed, 
  Vincennes, 
  Indiana 
  

  

  In 
  top-working 
  large 
  native 
  walnut 
  trees 
  to 
  the 
  Persian 
  or 
  Eng- 
  

   lish 
  walnut, 
  the 
  first 
  operation 
  is 
  to 
  cut 
  the 
  trees 
  back 
  severely. 
  

   This 
  should 
  be 
  done 
  while 
  the 
  trees 
  are 
  dormant, 
  preferably 
  in 
  

   February 
  or 
  early 
  in 
  March. 
  Cut 
  them 
  back 
  two 
  feet 
  or 
  more 
  above 
  

   where 
  you 
  wish 
  to 
  graft, 
  then 
  cut 
  again 
  to. 
  where 
  you 
  want 
  them. 
  

   This 
  will 
  avoid 
  sphtting. 
  Usually 
  we 
  cut 
  back 
  to 
  where 
  the 
  limbs 
  

   are 
  from 
  two 
  to 
  four 
  inches 
  in 
  diameter. 
  We 
  have 
  cut 
  some 
  back 
  

   that 
  were 
  six 
  to 
  eight 
  inches 
  with 
  good 
  results. 
  However, 
  limbs 
  

   this 
  size 
  require 
  careful 
  attention 
  to 
  avoid 
  decay 
  as 
  it 
  takes 
  so 
  long 
  

   for 
  them 
  to 
  heal 
  over. 
  

  

  Scions 
  for 
  Grafting 
  

  

  Scions 
  for 
  grafting 
  should 
  be 
  cut 
  while 
  perfectly 
  dormant 
  and 
  

   packed 
  in 
  damp 
  moss 
  or 
  sawdust, 
  being 
  careful 
  not 
  to 
  have 
  it 
  too 
  

   wet. 
  Paper 
  line 
  the 
  boxes 
  and 
  place 
  in 
  a 
  cool 
  place. 
  Cold 
  storage 
  

   is 
  much 
  better. 
  Scions 
  cut 
  during 
  the 
  winter 
  and 
  placed 
  in 
  cold 
  

   storage 
  will 
  come 
  out 
  in 
  good 
  shape 
  for 
  grafting 
  in 
  May, 
  or 
  budding 
  

   during 
  July 
  or 
  August. 
  Where 
  there 
  is 
  danger 
  of 
  the 
  wood 
  being 
  

   injured 
  by 
  cold 
  weather 
  it 
  would 
  be 
  well 
  to 
  cut 
  scions 
  in 
  November, 
  

   before 
  severe 
  cold. 
  

  

  Time 
  for 
  Grafting 
  

  

  Wait 
  until 
  the 
  new 
  growth 
  is 
  well 
  advanced 
  or 
  nearly 
  in 
  full 
  leaf, 
  

   which 
  is 
  about 
  May 
  1 
  to 
  10, 
  in 
  this 
  latitude. 
  

  

  Methods 
  

  

  Use 
  either 
  the 
  wedge 
  graft 
  or 
  the 
  bark 
  graft. 
  We 
  have 
  had 
  

   equally 
  good 
  results 
  with 
  each. 
  If 
  any 
  difference 
  it 
  is 
  in 
  favor 
  of 
  

   the 
  side 
  or 
  bark 
  graft 
  which 
  we 
  prefer 
  because 
  it 
  does 
  not 
  split 
  or 
  

   mutilate 
  the 
  stock, 
  there 
  is 
  not 
  the 
  chance 
  for 
  decay, 
  and 
  the 
  wounds 
  

   heal 
  over 
  much 
  quicker. 
  On 
  limbs 
  three 
  to 
  four 
  inches 
  in 
  diameter 
  

   put 
  in 
  three 
  to 
  four 
  grafts. 
  

  

  Cut 
  the 
  stubs 
  back 
  one 
  to 
  two 
  inches 
  below 
  where 
  they 
  were 
  cut 
  

   when 
  dormant 
  so 
  you 
  may 
  have 
  a 
  fresh 
  clean 
  cut. 
  Pare 
  the 
  rough 
  

   bark 
  off 
  until 
  you 
  have 
  a 
  fairly 
  smooth 
  surface 
  for 
  three 
  inches 
  

   below 
  where 
  the 
  limbs 
  are 
  cut 
  off. 
  

  

  