298 HOETICULTURAL MANUAL. 



service to the pistillate flowers. This is a very important 

 matter in nut culture." 



Where walnut-growing is now systematized by commer- 

 cial planting, alternating varieties is practised. It may 

 prove that in many places where the trees prove hardy but 

 unfruitful, that as yet no attention has been given to the 

 important question of pollination. 



284. Walnut Propagation. — The belief has been quite 

 general in this country that budding or grafting the nut 

 trees has proven more uncertain and difficult than the 

 grafting of the stone fruits. But where thrifty young 

 stocks are used in European nurseries a better stand of nut 

 trees is usually secured by grafting than with the plums 

 and cherries. 



The most perfect success known to the writer has been 

 reached by using young thrifty stocks and inserting the 

 grafts under the bark (94) as soon as the bark can be 

 raised, when the buds are well started. The scions used 

 are also started and are cut as used. The wounds are 

 waxed, as is also the end of the scion. A paper sack is then 

 tied tightly over the stock and scion to lessen evaporation. 

 If left without tying, the paper sack in high winds is apt 

 to break or loosen the scion. This is the favorite method 

 of grafting the oaks and all tree-growing species of the 

 nut family in west and east Europe. The plan known as 

 ring or flute budding (77) has also given good results in 

 west Europe and in California. 



On thrifty young stocks California propagators have had 

 success also with the walnut by summer budding (72), 

 using the smaller buds at the base of the young wood 

 scions. But in Europe and on the west coast the stocks 

 in which the summer buds are inserted are not cut back 

 until the next spring, and then are cut with a high stub, 

 to which the growing shoot is attached by tying. 



