Propagation of the Pecan 



43 



the same fundamental principles of budding and grafting are 

 applied as in the propagation of small nursery seedlings. 



Some preparatory work is necessary before top-working 

 pecan seedlings in forests or native groves. All timber or 

 underbrush within a radius of twenty or thirty feet should 

 be removed to give space for cultivation. The weeds and 

 grass should be raked and burned from near the trees that 

 are to be top- 

 worked in old 

 fields. When there 

 are several 

 sprouts in a 

 clump, one or two 

 of the best and 

 strongest should 

 be saved for top- 

 working and the 

 the others cut 

 down (Fig. 4). 

 This preliminary 

 work is, of course, 

 unnecessary in a 

 pecan orchard 

 where the trees 

 are properly 

 spaced and the 

 land already in 

 cultivation. 



There are two 



radically different Figure 5.— Native seedling tree, showing 

 - - . , points where Umbs are to be removed for top- 



methods m the working. 



