1943

27. Stoke, H. G.--Grafting Methods Adapted to Nut Trees. Rept. North.
Nut Grow. Assoc. _37_:99-102. 1946

28. Weschcke, Carl--The Importance of Stock and Scion Relationship in
Hickory and Walnut. Rept. North. Nut Grow. Assoc. _39_:190-195. 1948

29. Wilkinson, J. F--Preparation of Stocks for Propagation. Rept. North.
Nut Grow. Assoc. _28_:65-66. 1937

30. Zarger, Thomas G.--Nut-testing, Propagation, and Planting Experience
of 90 Black Walnut Selections. Rept. Nut Grow. Assoc. _36_:23-30. 1945

Nut Rootstock Material in Western Michigan

Harry P. Burgart, _Union City, Michigan_

It is only natural that those who propagate by budding and grafting are
always hoping to find a rootstock that will accept their scions with the
highest percentage of takes and impart vigorous growth to the scion
variety. Sometimes in our eagerness to adopt a new rootstock we are
likely to neglect a vital point, namely--Future Performance of the
root-top combination we are about to use.

It would take years of observation in a test planting to prove whether
or not a new rootstock material is safe to use. A rootstock can affect
the tree it supports in various ways. Sometimes the rootstock will force
to the top too much growth, which is likely to bring about
unfruitfulness. In other cases, the rootstock may cause a dwarfing habit
in the future tree, with the resulting top being a scant producer of
nuts. Then there is the combination where rootstock and top vary too
much in their growth rate, thus making an unsightly tree. The ideal
rootstock is one that attains a diameter nearly equal to the diameter of
its partner, and is capable of producing a moderate amount of top
growth, together with the production of heavy crops of nuts. Such a
rootstock should also accept buds or grafts readily, and be compatible
with the scion throughout the life of the tree.

My first experience with rootstocks for grafting came about in 1926 when
I was working at the J. F. Jones Nursery then at Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. Mr. Jones used both bitternut and pecan seedling stocks
for grafting shagbark hickories. Pecans and hicans were also grafted on
hardy northern pecan seedlings, and Japanese walnut stocks were used for
butternuts and heartnuts. Black and Persian walnut scions were set on
eastern black walnut seedlings.

When I returned to Michigan I brought back enough of Mr. Jones' trees
for a small test planting here at Union City. These trees wer