35 



Stocks should be vigorous. Dwarfed, stunted, submerged, liide 

 bound trees make poor stocks. This is important, I believe. 



Scions 



The condition of the scion is the most important element for suc- 

 cess in top-working hickory trees. The technique of grafting has been 

 so simplified as to make it fairly easy, and native stocks are usually 

 vigorous. But unless the scions have full vitalitv success will be lim- 

 ited. They should be plump and not pithy. A limited success is pos- 

 sible with scions of feeble growth, or those subjected to devitalising 

 influences in keeping or handling, but the largest success will be had 

 with well g-rown scions, cut from vigorous trees or grafts, whose buds 

 are completely dormant, and have a fresh, green appearance on cut- 

 ting. When the cambium layer shows a yellowish or brownish tint 

 the scions are useless. Slender wood may make good scions but is 

 more difficult to keep in good condition. Heavy wood from vigorous, 

 young, grafted trees, or from cut back trees, makes the best scions 

 and is the easiest to keep. Wood more than 1 year old and as large 

 as one can handle makes good scions. Dr. Morris, with the use of the 

 plane, has succeeded with astonishingly large scions and even branches. 

 Sometimes buds are absent from these large scions or are very incon- 

 spicuous. They may be searched for with a lens. 



Preferablv scions should be cut when entirely dormant. Buds that 

 show signs of breaking should be removed. Scions cut after growth starts 

 may be used with success if there are dormant buds. This "immediate 

 grafting," as Dr. Morris calls it has not been fully studied. It may be 

 of great value. It is quite successful with the apple and the pear. It 

 appears to depend chiefly on the jDresence of dormant buds of vitality. 



The later in the season the dormant scions are cut the shorter the 

 time they have to be kept, though probably this is not of importance if 

 the method of keeping is right. 



Keeping Scions 



The larger the scion the easier it is to keep it. Dr. Morris cuts 

 whole branches and keeps them in the sawdust of his icehouse. I 

 have cut them two inches in diameter and kept them lying uncovered 

 on the barn cellar floor into the second summer looking fresh and 

 green. The smaller the scion the more susceptible it is to moisture 

 environment. Scions must be kept where it is neither too moist nor 

 too dry. Usually the mistake is made of keeping them too moist. The 

 buds may start if the scions are too moist even when the temperature 



