48 Pecan-Growing 



fails in bark-grafting the new shoots coming from the stock 

 can be worked later; only one cutting back of the stock is 

 necessary. 



When a large number of trees are to be top-worked a plat- 

 form of convenient height mounted on a wagon will be helpful 

 to the operator. Large limbs should have shallow cuts made 

 on the lower side before being sawed off so as to avoid splitting. 

 Another means of averting splitting is, before sawing the limb, 

 to wrap a stout chain around it just below where it is to be 

 cut off. Limbs or tops of pecan trees having a diameter 

 greater than six inches at the point of sawing heal very 

 slowly. Therefore, such large limbs should not be cut 

 whenever it can be avoided. The cutting back and top-working 

 of very large pecan trees is a doubtful venture, except for the 

 experienced propagator. 



In cutting back a pecan tree for top-working, the wounds 

 should be so made and handled as to facilitate healing and 

 prevent exposure to the elements and the attendant dangers 

 of fungus infection. The cut should be made so as to allow 

 drainage ; and the cut surface protected with some waterproof 

 or antiseptic covering until the healing process is complete. 

 Among the protective substances employed are white lead 

 paint, grafting-wax, paraffin, coal-tar, and a coal-tar creosote 

 mixture, composed of one-third creosote and two-thirds coal- 

 tar. For large wounds, the creosote coal-tar mixture is prob- 

 ably best, even though excellent results from the use of hot 

 paraffin and some of the other substances mentioned have 

 been reported. In applying the protective covering, the 

 newly-made wound should be allowed time to dry, then a 

 coat of protective substance applied. The wound should be 

 repainted or treated as often as may be necessary for com- 



