THE WALNUT 



cut thru this cavity. Give no heed to it whatever, 

 since it is dead, the work will not be injured in the 

 least by so doing. If large scions are used, cut out 

 the V-shaped cleft with the saw and smooth the sides 

 with the knife. When the scions are small, shape 

 the cleft with the knife after the first cut with the 

 saw. Shaping the cleft properly is very important. 

 Cut the top of the cleft in width to equal the diam- 

 eter of the scion. Every motion of the knife should 

 cut toward the pith cavity of the stock. Shape the 

 scion to fit this cavity along the cambiums on each 

 side ; also the wood of the scion should fit firmly in 

 the wood of the stock. The circulation is not alone 

 in the cambium, but in the sap wood as well, hence, 

 the better union, the bet f er result. Drive the scion 

 down firmly but not with .sufficient force to close 

 the cells. Fill the space back of the scion with rags 

 or soft paper pressed in firmly, to absorb the sap, 

 which would otherwise fill this cavity and destroy 

 the scion. In grafting limbs six or seven inches in 

 diameter, put four or five scions into each. "Wax 

 over the ends of the stock and the scions also along 

 the face of the latter in the cleft. Cut the scion so 

 a bud will be on the face about the level of the limb. 

 Always aim to get two good buds. One is better 

 than three. If scions are kept in good condition, 



[44] 



