10 CITRUS TREES AND THEIR DISEASES 



his scions right; the dream suggested that the scions 

 should be cut in diamond shape, as well as the incisions 

 upon the seedling, thereby making a perfect fit of the 

 scion to the incision; then by applying the pruner's 

 wax and carefully inserting the scion a perfect union 

 is met with between the scion and the stock or the 

 seedling. Of course, this was in the days when we 

 grafted entirely upon the collar or crown of the seed- 

 ling and before the days of cellar grafting. This dia- 

 mond cut graft and incision, when properly done, keeps 

 any water from surrounding the scion, thereby pro- 

 ducing an improper union, which followed down, pro- 

 duces a black streak through the heart of the tree and 

 in later years produces a weak constitution or chronic 

 diseases. Many of our diseased trees are not alto- 

 gether produced in the orchard or grove; that is to 

 say, the cause of the disease, but in many instances the 

 imperfect union and unskilled methods of propagation 

 in the first nursery row. 



