ked with Mr. Stevenson, of the Federal Horticultural Board,
regarding this matter, and he says that, while there is no federal
quarantine covering the chestnuts, as a matter of policy we have not
been letting any chestnuts or scions go through our hands into the
non-blight regions. Mr. Stevenson says that Dr. Morris himself might be
able to carry out the plan he suggests by dealing direct with some of
the state institutions in non-blight regions, selecting states that have
no quarantine against chestnuts."]

PROF. COLLINS: I will now read my paper on

PROTECTION OF WOUNDS IN NUT TREES

I have been asked to discuss briefly the handling of wood decay in
top-worked nut trees. I am not sure that I know very much about the
latest methods employed in this type of work. Personally I have had no
practical experience with it. I understand, however, that nut trees are
top-worked by cutting off limbs and inserting one or more scions. I am
informed that limbs as large as six inches or more in diameter have
been cut for this purpose, particularly on pecan trees in the South, and
that decay has started at the top of these stubs after the scions have
become established, resulting in a pocket of decay. I assume that it is
about such places as these that you want me to say something. Such
conditions, whatever their origin, call for straight tree surgery
methods. My work on tree surgery has been almost entirely with shade
trees and chestnuts, and only to a very limited extent on other nut
trees.

The general methods of handling decay are essentially the same on all
trees, as also are the fundamental principles underlying the same,
whether on nut or shade trees. I must admit I do not know just what
methods are being employed by nut growers at the present time to
counteract such decay in top-worked trees, so my suggestions may include
nothing with which you are unfamiliar. Again, they may include some
methods that you have already tried and found wanting so far as nut
trees are concerned.

As a _prevention_ of decay my suggestions, based on my own shade tree
experience, would be:

(1) Avoid cutting large limbs when smaller ones are available and will
serve the purpose just as well or better.

(2) Keep the scars thoroughly and continuously covered with some good
waterproof and antiseptic material so as to prevent infection of any
part of the cut surfaces.

(3) Always make the cut somewhat slanting so that rain water will