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hickory. There are also numerous hybrids between the hickory species, 

 So far as we know any one of these hickories will take and grow when 

 grafted on any of the others. The most, and least, desirable combina- 

 tions have not been finally determined, but this much may be said 

 about the least desirable; that the final results with pecans topworked 

 on shag'bark have not been satisfactory, and that some of the hybrids 

 fail to live long when grafted on species other than the two which 

 were their parents. The question of compatibility is now being worked 

 out and will soon be better known. Meanwhile, bearing in mind these 

 cautions, especially with regard to the hybrid hickories, one may begin 

 topworking, using whatever hickories are at hand as stocks, on which 

 to graft whatever scions of good hickories can be obtained. 



I suggest that, in getting a knowledge of, and skill in, grafting 

 nut trees, it will be well to practice with scions cut from any hickory 

 tree rather than to use up valuable scions in the first attempt. It is 

 likely to take some time to learn how to graft successfully, especially 

 if you have to do so from descriptions. An hour or two with an ex- 

 perienced grafter will teach more than many hours of reading. Apple 

 trees are very easy to graft and good to practice on. 



Equipment 



The first need is a good knife. The grafting knife made by 

 Maher & Gross, with a sturdy handle and blade, is a good one. Shap- 

 ing the scions is much ensier if the knife is sharpened with a slight 

 bevel on the upper side of the edge so that the flat side is next to 

 the scion in making the cut. This bevel must be made on an oil stone 

 by the grafter as the knives are not sharpened in that way bv the 

 makers. 



Pruning shears are needed to cut up the scions and to trim the 

 stocks. 



A sharp saw with medium teeth with a good set is necessary 

 to cut the stocks. I like a medium-sized carpenter's saw, but there 

 are many forms of pruning saws. A double edged saw is not to be 

 recommended. 



For binding the scions in place raffia is the most used material. 

 It can be bought at seedsmen's supply stores. It sliould be dampened 

 before using. Soft twine, also, may be used. 



