ief
danger from this practice is that late frosts may nip the buds after
starting, which is fatal to the new scion.

Waxing all cut surfaces, including the tip of the scion, should be
practiced except as explained when the side graft is used for walnuts.
Some advocate waxing the entire scion, also. If this is done I think it
better to leave the buds unwaxed.

Have your knife very sharp. A broad blade is desirable in a grafting
knife, as it helps in making smooth, flat surfaces in wedges and clefts.
For budding, use a knife with a narrow blade, but also very sharp.
Develop skill in making the scion wedge, and in cutting the cleft just
the right depth and width for the scion selected. Experiment on
worthless material until you get the knack. If you are a good,
natural-born whittler you will find it a greater asset than a college
degree.

Beginnings in Walnut Grafting

By C. C. Lounsberry, Iowa

Anyone who has studied propagation manuals from ancient to modern times
cannot help but see how methods are carried down from older books to
modern ones. However, in walnut grafting one suspects there were trade
secrets not permitted publication. How different this was from friendly
and helpful cultural and propagation directions given by Mr. J. F.
Jones, Dr. W. C. Deming, Dr. Robert T. Morris, and others of the
Northern Nut Growers' Association.

Beginning with Ancient Times

Greeks: Theophrastus mentions hazel nuts but nothing about walnuts.

Romans: Pliny, Cato, etc. have little to say about walnuts. Pliny refers
to planting seeds of walnuts but no other method of propagation.
However, he states oaks and walnuts are poisonous to soil, and walnuts
are only used in a few cases for human remedies.

English: Loudon, Evelyn, Knight, etc. Loudon sticks to propagation of
walnuts by seed. Knight[8] followed the French practice of grafting
walnuts by approach up to the time of his discoveries in 1832, which
were similar to Dr. Morris's "immediate" grafting.

French: The French used grafting by approach (inarching) early in the
19th century. Mortillet[11], 1863, states only one-third to one-half of
walnut grafts are successful. These were probably Persian walnuts. We
are not sure what other methods the French used. Mr. C. E. Parsons of
the Felix Gillet Co. in 1940, sent us a picture showing Felix Gillet in
his greenhouse at Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City, California. This
picture he states was taken in 1900-1902.