The summer was well along when my canary bird shoots opened a vista. The vista appeared at a time of drought when plant propagators wait for better days. It seemed to be necessary to get in a part of the work at least on July 28th and we then had the drought intensified by five more days of great heat, temperatures ranged above 90 degrees F. in the shade and above 140 degrees F. in the sun. After this period of heat and drought we had abundant rains. All grafts were wax treated in these experiments. In no case was an entire leaf left at the distal end of a graft because it was felt that even one-fourth of one leaf would attend to the required functions.
Exp. No. 1. A growing persimmon shoot about two feet long was cut up into scions with a few buds each, and about one-fourth of a leaf allowed to remain at the distal end of each scion, other leaves on each scion being snipped off. Each scion including its remnant of leaf was dipped in melted parapin wax. Two of these were grafted upon green shoots of another persimmon, the latter cut back to make stubs for reception of cleft grafts. Three of the scions were inserted in bark slots in older wood. Note, Sept. 9th, Green leaf part including its petiole had dropped off from all five scions. A small slit in the bark of each graft for investigation showed that the cambium was green in four grafts, the fifth graft was completely dead.
Exp. No. 2. On July 28th three persimmon scions consisting of last year's wood and each one carrying a couple of inches of new growth with a terminal trimmed leaf were grafted into last year's wood on another persimmon tree. Note. Sept. 9th. All three grafts dead including both old and new wood.
Exp. No. 3. July 28th. One green persimmon scion with terminal leaf inserted in bark slot of branch one inch in diameter cut back for purpose. Note Sept. 9th. Dead.
On August 2nd the drought had been broken. All trees seemed to have put up top buds on account of drought and heat. The following experiments were made with green growth of the year but with new top buds much to my regret at having no actively unfolding shoots for furnishing scions.
Exp. No. 4. Aug 2nd. Persimmon tree (a) One graft, green on green; one green graft on old wood. Note. Sept. 9th. Terminal leaves remained green several days after grafting but by Sept. 9th all had fallen off. Small slit in bark showed cambium of grafts still green.
Persimmon tree (b) Two green grafts on green. One green graft in bark slot of older wood. Note Sept. 9th. Terminal leaves had finally died but two of the buds of green graft on green have burst forth into leaf. These will probably winterkill. Green in old wood has green cambium but no swelling bud.
Exp. No. 5 Aug 2nd. Persimmon tree (c) One green on old wood. Sept. 9th. Leaf dead, cambium of stem green.
Exp. No. 6. Aug 2nd. Persimmon tree (d) One green on old wood. Sept. 9th. Leaf dead, cambium of stem green.
Exp. No. 7. Aug. 2nd. Persimmon tree (e) Three greens on old wood. Sept. 9th. Leaves dead, one stem dead, cambium of two stems green.