106 NUT GROWING 



grafting*. For purposes of nomenclature it may be 

 called "the bark slot method." (Figs. 6, 15, 24, 26.) 

 By employing this method stocks of any large diam- 

 eter may be grafted even the stump of a great tree 

 felled by saw. According to our textbooks graft- 

 ing should not be attempted upon limbs of greater 

 diameter than three inches. There is no limit to the 

 diameter of a limb or trunk or stump of a tree which 

 is to receive bark slot grafts. It may be three feet 

 in diameter instead of three inches. There is one 

 added responsibility and the diameter of the respon- 

 sibility corresponds to that of the limb or trunk of 

 the tree. We must keep the whole cut surface of 

 the stock neatly covered with paraffin, or other pro- 

 tection, for several years until new growth has cov- 

 ered in the area that would otherwise be continually 

 exposed to attacks from fungi and bacteria. Work 

 of this sort would have no difficulties for the pro- 

 fessional tree surgeon, but the amateur nut grower 

 would be neglectful of his duties in the matter as a 

 rule. For that reason the old textbook limit of 

 three inches for the diameter of limbs to be grafted 

 will still hold good for practical application. 



The bark slot method is divided into two varieties, 

 the distal graft and the proximal graft. The distal 

 graft is employed for the distal ends or stubs of 

 branches and the proximal graft is employed for any 

 part of a limb or trunk of a tree that is proximally 

 situated. The distal bark slot is made by holding the 

 butt end of a scion alongside of the end of a limb 

 and cutting through the bark of the limb on either 



