The Pecan Nut. 131 



transverse cut are turned upwards and downwards and the bud 

 inserted, the upper and lower edges of the bark surrounding the 

 bud being levelled down with a sharp knife. In the side M bud the 

 flaps are turned from the transverse cut, the one to the right and the 

 other to the left, the side edges being levelled. It is understood that 

 all this has to be done rapidly, so that no drying out takes place in 

 either stock or scion, that a very sharp and clean knife is used, and that 

 the flaps in both the upright and side slits are pulled over the bark 

 portion of the bud and firmly tied with raffia or some such material ; 

 and, further, that a certain amount of cold mastic (grafting wax) is 

 pressed over all parts of the incisions. As a further precaution gum- 

 edged paper is bound, starting from the bottom and working to the 

 top, in a spiral fashion, covering the whole of the part operated on; 

 this forms a sor'^ of frilled petticoat that carries off any drip of rain 

 or dew that might injure the bud, and also protects from cold winds 

 or glaring sun. Over and above that, a sheet of paper is sometimes 

 tied tightly round the stem of the stock three or four inches above 

 the bud, which is thus covered by the loose lower part of the paper, 

 assuming somewht the shape of a crinolene or inverted funnel. There 

 are various other types of budding practised that need only be men- 

 tioned here, such as the " chip bud " and the " triangle bud," but if 

 success is not attained by using those already described it is not likely 

 that it will be with other types of buds. 



Grafting. — Various kinds of grafts are used, but one of the most 

 successful and popular is the "rind or bark" graft. The "whip 

 tongue " is also largely used in top grafting old trees. It is unneces- 

 sary to describe the operations of grafting, which are the same as for 

 other fruit trees. 



The one important point is that both buds and scions for grafting 

 are taken from wood of the previous season. A terminal bud, that 

 is, the fruiting bud, should not be used as a scion, as from the habit 

 of the tree's growth the bud or the second bud below the terminal 

 takes up and continues the main vertical growth of the tree, and 

 becomes a leader for the time being. 



Stocks. — The stocks on which to work selected pecans are varieties 

 of hickories or seedling pecans. The affinity of pecans with many of 

 the hickories is good, and the range of adaptability to various soils 

 may be somewhat greater than that of the pecan seedling itself, 

 althoughj taking all things into consideration, pecan on pecan 

 seedlings are probably better than those on hickories. 



Varieties. — There are somewhat over 100 varieties of selected 

 pecans, some, as in other trees, doing better in certain soils and situa- 

 tions than others. A few of the most approved and tested varieties 

 are Stuart, Mantusa, Van Deman, Money-maker, Achley Pabst, 

 James, President, Carmen, and Sovereign. 



Up to about 50 nuts to the pound is considered a fair-sized 

 sample, although as few as 25 to the pound of some varieties may be 

 selected. The tree is monoescious, as is the walnut in its flowering 

 habit, that is, the staminate and pistilate blossoms are borne 

 separately upon the same tree. The staminate'' blossoms appear in 

 clusters of catkins upon the last season's growth, somewhat in advance 

 of the pistilate blossoms, which are found only at the terminals of 

 the new branches. 



