49 



Tifne of Year for Grafting 



Experts have .grafted nut trees in nearly every month of the year. 

 But for beginners the best time is from the breaking of the buds in 

 spring until about the first of July. That is, from the time the bark 

 begins to slip until a date after which there is likely to be too little 

 time left for grafts to grow and harden their wood before freezing 

 weather. It will be noted that this is different from the former prac- 

 tice of grafting while the trees are still dormant, during the cold and 

 unpleasant weather of early spring. If grafting is done before the 

 b;irk will slip a different method must be used from the one here to be 

 described. For a description of this see the fifteenth (1921) annual 

 report of the Association. 



Preparation of Stocks 



Vigorous young trees not over three inches in diameter, growing 

 in the open, make the best stocks. Stunted trees, or those growing in 

 heavy shade, make poor stocks. Cut off the top of the tree at a con- 

 venient level, say about breast high, leaving about one third of its 

 branches. If this leaves too many branches below the cut they may 

 be pruned back. The cut may be made higher if necessary to get 

 above a sufficient number of side branches, or if the trees are in a 

 pasture cows will surely eat the tender shoots of hickories if they 

 can reach them. It may be necessary to use a step ladder if the point 

 for grafting is liigh. jNIake tlie cut just above a branch of medium 

 size, which will keep up the circulation of sap. the life blood of the 

 tree. Some grafters advise that the cut be made with a heavy slant, 

 but I prefer to cut with a slight slant, or none at all, and then to set 

 from two to four grafts according to the size of the stock. The best 

 of these is allowed to grow to form the new tree. The others are 

 pruned back for scion-wood ye/ir after year. They hasten the healing 



of the stump and prevent decay. 



My own practice is to cut back these stocks at the time I do the 

 grafting. If about a third of the br-inches is left there is no trouble 

 from excessive sap-flow. 



The Operation of Grafting 



Apply the point of the knife to the edge of the bark on the cut-off 

 stock, at the place selected for the giraft, and make a cut through the 



