No. Growing Died % Growing % Died
Weiker 46 0 46 0 100 One graft to tree
5 3 2 60 40 T.W.T 1-1/4" diameter
5 1 4 20 80 U.W.T.
23 1 22 4.2 95.8 U.W.T.
Taylor 5 2 3 40 60 U.W.T. 10" diameter
27 7 20 25.9 74.1
Fairbanks 15 11 4 73.3 26.7
Vest 27 1 26 3.7 96.3
Manahan 22 7 15 31.8 68.2
7 0 7 0 100 U.W.T. 3" diameter
Laney 13 6 7 46.1 53.9
15 1 14 6.6 93.4 U.W.T. 6" diameter
Beaver 5 2 3 40 60 Scions poor. But one
grew 7 ft. 4 in.
Kentucky 19 7 12 36.8 67.2
10 1 9 10 90 U.W.T. 5" diameter
Kirtland 12 5 7 41.6 58.4
16 5 11 31.3 68.7 U.W.T. 5" diameter
7 1 6 14.2 85.8 U.W.T. Put on late
as also the Hales
Hales a 6 1 5 16.6 83.4 U.W.T. 3" diameter
b 35 0 35 0 100 U.W.T. 10" diameter
c 2 2 0 100 0 T.W.T. 1-1/2%" diameter
d 4 4 0 100 0 T.W.T. 2" diameter
e 3 3 0 100 0 T.W.T.
f 3 2 1 66.6 33.3 T.W.T.
g 6 4 2 66.6 33.3 T.W.T.
—— — —- ——- ——-
Total 338 75 263 22.2 77.8
The last two series of the Hales made 100% start also but bugs
killed three grafts.
U. W. T. means a tree from which all the lower limbs were cut back
to about a foot or eighteen inches and grafted, a few top limbs
having been left intact.
T. W. T. means a tree from which the top had been cut, the lower limbs and stub having been grafted, although a few of the lower limbs were not sawed off.
A study of the above record is interesting. All of my stocks are of the mockernut type, varying from three-fourths to two inches in diameter, except a few trees to which I refer specially as T.W.T. and U.W.T. It will be noted that the Weiker and the Vest made the poorest catches. It could not have been due entirely to weather conditions or the condition of the scions, for the scions of these two varieties were equal to anything I had. In view of the fact that they are both very desirable nuts, I always carried a few scions and kept placing them frequently as I placed other varieties. Many Vests were placed at the same time as the Fairbanks, which shows 73.3% catches. The one Vest that did catch, however, made a very thrifty growth, showing that it is possible apparently to do well on the mockernut.
With the Weiker, about the 15th of July, I put five scions on the limbs and trunk of a tree about 1-1/4 inches in diameter, the top having been cut out, with three catches, 60%, against another lot of 46 with 100% failure and 23 more with 4.2% success. Such antics are difficult to understand.
Many of the scions were put in the trunks of the trees; others were put on the small branches with the splice graft. The scions placed on the trunks, or the larger limbs near the trunk, apparently did somewhat better than the splice grafts further out on the limbs. In the walnut and other sappy trees, however, the splice graft out on the small limbs did better.
It is of peculiar interest that all of the large trees from which the lower limbs were sawed and the stubs grafted, the topmost limbs having been left, designated as U.W.T., did badly. While in the case of the five Hales, three had 100% and two had 66.6% catches. These two also had 100% catches but bugs ate the tender shoots and killed three of them. These trees had the tops cut off last fall leaving only a few lower limbs. They were put in on July 20th after the sprouts had well started on the trees. The sprouts were not taken off but their tops were pinched out. These grafts made a growth of from one to two feet or more. At the same time a tree was trimmed (Hales b in the record) and all the lower limbs grafted with Hales, leaving a few top branches only. Thirty-five were set and not a single one grew. The location of this tree was better than any of the five above referred to, because a couple of those trees were standing on the top of a rock where one would wonder how they could exist, and it was so hot when I placed the grafts that I had to quit and get out of the sun. In spite of that 100% grew.
A study of the above record leads to the conclusion that there is very little difference in plant and animal cells and it seems clear that certain old, underlying principles must be dealt with. I need not refer to heredity because, while it is undoubtedly quite possible, perhaps, to influence heredity tendencies so as to get stocks to accept scions more readily, it is not the major issue for most of us just now. Next spring we will take what heredity has given us and be satisfied. However, it appears certain that our results in grafting the various stocks we now have will depend largely on our ability to:
1. Regulate plant circulation. 2. Stimulate cellular activity to a point compatible with wound repair, defensive and growing processes. 3. Control plant cell nutrition.