THE WALNUT 



*The Cleft Graft 



The cleft is the method generally used, but when 

 performed by splitting the limb and inserting the 

 wedge-shaped scion best results are not obtained. 

 The walnut, peach and even the cherry, when graft- 

 ed late in the springtime, fail to respond by the 

 above method. 



If the operator, after making the cleft, would 

 cut out a portion of the wood, thus opening up a 

 greater number of the sap cells, he would be more 

 successful. When the limb is split the rough bark 

 prevents a good union. The cells are simply bent 

 aside; but few are broken, hence scions are usually 

 starved and make poor progress, should they grow. 



Prepare the tree by cutting off all the limbs to 

 be grafted. First cut on the under side of leaning 

 limbs until the saw is "pinched." then cut the bark 

 around the limb before sawing it off. 



This prevents the bark from stripping down 

 when the branch falls. Leave a limb on the south- 

 west to shade and protect the young grafts from 

 heat. Make a cut with a ripsaw toward the center 

 or pith cavity of the limb, and down the side about 

 two inches. If the limb is small you may have to 



*Method successfully used in grafting old trees, by the 

 Tribble Brothers of Elk Grove. Sacramento County, California. 



[42] 



