ll other states in the production of
this nut. The results which are being obtained in this experiment are
proving to be of unusual interest and profit to Missouri growers.

The investigation has been extended to include, besides black walnuts,
pecans, hickories, hazel nuts, chinkapins and chestnuts. With each of
these nuts our object is to determine better varieties for Missouri
conditions, more profitable and economical methods of production and
more satisfactory methods of culture, as well as to stimulate an
interest in the marketing and larger use of these products.

The improved varieties of seedling black walnut have been found to be
exceedingly easy to propagate by cleft grafting the native or common
seedlings. The cleft graft has been used successfully upon seedling
trees ranging in diameter from 1-1/2 inches to as much as 8 or 10
inches. In general, however, it has been found best to cleft graft
branches or limbs of no greater diameter than from 4 to 6 inches. Such
wounds, if properly handled, usually heal over completely within 3 or 4
years. When larger branches are used, decay is much more apt to develop
in the wound before healing over is accomplished.

The cleft grafting work is accomplished in the usual way. The limb or
branch is removed by sawing it off. The end of the branch is then split
with a regular grafting implement used for this purpose; or the work may
be accomplished with an axe. If the branch is large a wedge is driven in
the center to hold the split cavity apart and to relieve the pressure
upon the scions which are to be inserted. Wood of the last season's
growth is procured from the variety which it is desired to propagate and
the lower end of the scion, which is made about 4 inches long, is
whittled to a wedge shape, after which it is inserted in the slit made
upon the stock. Where the stock is more than 2 inches in diameter, it is
usually advisable to place 2 scions; and where the stock is as large as
4 to 6 inches or more in diameter 4 scions should generally be used.
After the placing of the scions all the cut surfaces should be carefully
covered with grafting wax. Paper sacks are often used in our
experimental work to cover the grafts and cut surfaces for a week or 10
days. It has been found that the inclosing of the grafted branches in
paper sacks for this period lessens greatly the evaporation, and more of
the inserted scions are apt to grow.

The scions may grow very rapidly, in wh