er of the stock.

Before making the cut, the scion should be selected, and the wedge cut,
with one face slightly longer than the other. This enables one to
properly judge the depth and angle of the cleft, thus securing a fit on
all four cambial lines. The longer face goes toward the main body of the
stock, and is left slightly above the top of the stock. The apex of the
stock is squared off slightly before the cleft is cut, and the knife is
set very slightly on the wood at the starting point, rather than between
the bark and the wood. Care at this point guarantees very rapid healing,
with no dead tissues or "heel" on the stock, sometimes called "dieback."

Remember to watch all ties in grafting to prevent strangulation of the
tender new growth. This, with removal of sprouts or suckers from the
stock below the graft are two very important features of after-care, and
neglect can nullify the most expert work in the grafting operation.

In grafting the black walnut I prefer to use the side graft because of
the bleeding problem. This is precisely the same as the modified cleft
graft except that the cleft is made about three-fourths of an inch below
the apex of the stock. By making the graft a little below the top of the
stock one can tie and wax it, without waxing the top of the stock, which
is permitted to bleed at will. This freedom to bleed relieves the
pressure of the sap at the graft, where healing takes place without
flooding.

For stocks under an inch in diameter, I use the splice and modified
cleft grafts exclusively. For larger stocks, such as are encountered in
top working, other methods are preferred.

One can cut the main stock off just above a small limb, and graft one or
more of the limbs. Again, one may cut the large stock off a year in
advance, and bud or graft one or more of the suckers that are thrown
out.

If neither of the above methods are applicable, one can use either the
simple bark graft, or the slot bark graft.

In making the simple bark graft, I cut the stock off at a 45 degree
angle as for the modified cleft graft. The scion is prepared by making
one long wedge face, and on the other side make two short faces so that
the point is triangular.

To insert the scion make a cut through the bark downward from the apex
of the stock. Insert the scion between the bark and the stock, with the
long face next to the wood, and force gently down until just a little of
the face of the wedge shows above