516 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



blight resistant, interest is sharpened in grafting methods. Mr. 

 J. B. Neff, of Anaheim, who has looked into the subject deeply and 

 worked over many old trees gives the following practical sugges- 

 tions on this work : 



Walnut grafting by modified cleft graft. 



If the trees are from three to five inches in diameter they may be cut off 

 at about four feet above the ground and below the branches, then four or five 

 scions may be placed in one stock, or three or four of the branches may be cut 

 back to within 10 to 24 inches of the trunk and two to three scions placed in 

 each. All the other branches should be removed from the trunk. 



Old trees of from 12 to 20 years should have the branches cut at places 

 where they are from three to six inches in diameter, and from five to eight 

 stubs left, which will be from three to six feet in length and should have as 

 many as six scions in the large stubs, the other branches being removed before 

 the scions are put in place. 



In sawing large branches it is necessary to make two cuts, the first being 

 some distance above or outside the final cut, to prevent splitting the stub, or the 

 trunk, when the severed part falls. 



The scions should always be of solid, mature wood, that is, with as small 

 pith as can be had readily, and must have good living buds. Each scion should 

 be about one-quarter inch in diameter and have at least two buds. The growth 

 having buds close together is best, as shorter scions can be used. 



To receive the scions use a heavy butcher knife and mallet to split the stubs, 

 placing the knife across the stub as if a chip one-half to five-eighths-inch thick 

 was to be taken off. Then depress the handle of the knife to an angle of 30 to 

 45 degrees and split the edge down to 2^ to 3 inches, allowing the knife to 

 reach the farther side of the stub, but not making the split entirely across the 

 stub. Open the cleft with an iron wedge y* to ^-inch wide and thickest on one 

 edge, placing the thickest edge toward the outside. 



