68 NUT GROWING 



that were sawed off and placed whole under the saw- 

 dust. It was my supposition that the low tempera- 

 ture and the moisture near the ice layer kept this 

 material in good condition. Two years ago the 

 winter was so mild that no ice could be cut, but 

 scions buried in the sawdust seemed to keep quite 

 as well as if the ice had been there. A certain 

 amount of ground moisture made its way into the 

 sawdust and this sufficed. In that year scions kept 

 well enough so that hickories grafted as late as the 

 last week in July and hazels as late as the first week 

 in August caught and grew successfully. At the 

 time when scions are to be grafted it is important 

 for the buds to be dormant as a rule. Hazel scions 

 may be used after the buds are opening, even after 

 tiny leaves have appeared, if we cut off most of the 

 opened buds and cover the bud stumps with paraffin. 

 The hazels are an exception, however. Buds of 

 other species which have made a start when the 

 graft is inserted will often go on unfolding in the 

 most charming way but on false promise. They 

 grow for the same reason that they would grow 

 in a glass of water. In other words, it is the water 

 of the stock sap that is forcing these buds into ac- 

 tivity before union has taken place between stock 

 and scion. Their only nourishment is the small 

 amount stored up in the scion itself. If scion buds 

 are completely dormant when the graft is inserted 

 there is time enough for cell union between stock 

 and scion. When this has taken place before the 

 buds make a start they are then ready to receive 



