2520 



PECAN 



PECAN 



propagating season necessitates maintenance of a 

 high state of cultivation with which clods, stones, or 

 continued wetness seriously interfere. Nursery rows 

 should be 5 to 6 feet apart, with nuts planted 8 to 12 

 inches apart in the row, 2 to 3 inches deep. 



When stocks exceed % inch in diameter at the point 

 of grafting, cleft-grafting is preferred. If done above 



ground, the grafted stub 

 should be securely bound 

 with raffia or waxed cord 

 to avoid splitting, and 

 then thoroughly waxed 

 and wrapped with waxed 

 cloth to exclude air and 

 moisture. (Fig. 2825.) 

 Cions should be entirely 

 dormant and have all 

 exposed cut ends waxed 

 to reduce evaporation. 

 All grafting in place is 

 best done shortly in 

 advance of the pushing 

 of buds on the stock. 

 When stocks are under 

 % inch in diameter at 

 the crown, ordinary 

 whip-grafting in place is 

 considerably practised, 

 selecting cions as near 

 the size of the stock as 

 practicable and tying 

 securely with raffia or 

 waxed cloth. (Figs. 2826 

 and 2827.) Bench-graft- 

 ing, though possible, is 

 rarely practised with the 

 pecan. 



On account of the length of season during which 

 these methods may be practised, annular- and patch- 

 budding have been widely adopted by pecan-propa- 

 gators, and special tools for cutting the "rings" and 

 "patches" have come into general use in the southern 

 states (Figs. 2828 and 2829), though expert operators 

 succeed well with the ordinary budding-knife. These 

 methods may be used at any time during the growing 

 season when the bark of both stock and cion "slip" 

 well and the bark and buds of the new growth on the 

 cion trees are sufficiently mature to endure the neces- 

 sary manipulation. The essentials are good "slipping" 

 condition of both stock and cion, close fitting of "rings" 

 or "patches," secure tying with raffia or other suitable 

 material, careful attention to removal of ties and grad- 



2827. Whip-grafting. Later steps 

 in the operation: a, proper method 

 of tying; b, improper method of 

 tying; c, one year's growth follow- 

 ing a successful union. 



2828. A metal tool specially designed for use in 

 annular-budding. 



ual heading back of stock as growth proceeds to avoid 

 "drowning out" the bud, and after growth begins the 

 protection of it against splitting off or breaking down 

 by wind and storms, by tying up to stubs or stakes. 

 (Fig. 2830.) 



One of the simplest and most effective methods is 

 that long used by E. W. Kirkpatrick, of McKinney, 

 Texas, commonly known as "chip-budding." This may 

 be practised prior to and during the early growing 

 season. Dormant cions are used. It consists essentially 

 of the removal of a "chip" from the stock and its 

 replacement by a bud-bearing chip of approximately 

 identical size from the cion, which is securely tied in 



place without waxing. As this method requires only the 

 ordinary budding-knife and is equally applicable to 

 walnut, persimmon, and other species rather difficult 

 to propagate, it is growing in favor, especially in 

 Louisiana and Texas. (Fig. 2831.) 



With all methods of budding and grafting, both in 

 nursery and orchard, careful attention to the tying up 

 of the young buds during the first growing season is 

 required. Their soft and luxuriant growth renders 

 them peculiarly subject to destruction by storms, the 

 only effective protection against which is secure tying 

 to stock, stubs, or stakes. 



yl 



2829. A tool with wooden handle and steel blades specially 

 designed for use in annular-budding. 



The large number of seedling trees in orchards and 

 gardens yielding nuts of indifferent quality is arousing 

 much interest in top-working. This can be done by 

 all methods described, but all top-budding or grafting 

 should be as low hi the tree as practicable to prevent 

 the head from becoming "leggy" and "prongy." 



Successful methods of budding and grafting the 

 pecan are described by Charles L. Edwards, of Texas. 

 The budding method is shown in Fig. 1686, page 1367, 

 Vol. III. The crown-graft or crown-bud is shown in 

 Fig. 2832 and is described as follows: "Buds from wood 

 that has partially lost its vitality, or has been injured 

 by sap starting before it is cut or after it is cut in early 

 spring, may often be saved by this method when all 

 others fail. But the work must be carefully done and 

 instructions strictly observed, for if the bud is lost, the 

 remaining stock is badly disfigured. The stock is cut 

 off bodily at the desired 

 height. A slit is then 

 made at the top, the 

 bark opened, the bud 

 inserted and part of the 

 flaps of bark pared away. 

 Then the wrapper is put 

 on so as to cover not 

 only the cut made for 

 the insertion of the bud, 

 but the top of stump 

 also. The wrapper 

 should cover not only 

 the stump, but should 

 be long enough at the 

 top to pass over and go 

 down far enough on the 

 opposite side to be 

 caught by the string 

 used for tying on the 

 bud. The waxed cloth 

 covering the top of the 

 stump should be pressed 

 down firmly before tying, 

 and if the top of the 

 stump is % inch across 

 or more, there should be 

 two thicknesses of cloth 

 put over it and firmly 

 pressed down. On large 

 stumps, two buds may 

 be placed on opposite 

 sides so as to increase 

 chances of a 'take .' If 

 both buds live, one 

 of the shoots may be 



a 



2830. Annular-budding, a, Bud 

 stick from which the bud has been 

 removed; b, the bud ready for 

 insertion in the matrix of the 

 stock ; c, the stock ready to receive 

 the bud; d, the bud after being 

 placed in position and carefully 

 wrapped; e, growth taking place, 

 the wrapping having been re- 

 moved; /, growth from the bud 

 supported by being tied to the 

 stock, g, above the union. Note 

 the scars above the union, where 

 the buds were removed in order 

 to direct the flow of sap to the 

 new bud. 



