succeeding
years gave no better results and the experiments were discontinued.
Cuttings taken from native hickories during these same years failed to
produce roots.

Romberg(17) reported a small measure of success in rooting hardwood
stem cuttings to which young seedlings had been grafted by the inarch
method. The influence of the seedling on the nourishment of the cutting
was gradually diminished by girdling caused by a copper wire which was
tied about the seedling stem.

Apparently root cuttings of pecans and other hickories have never been
tried. In 1896 Corsa(7) observed that "when the lateral roots of the
pecan are broken by the plow, the ends of these roots frequently send up
thrifty shoots." Such a response would indicate that adventitious shoots
may arise from roots and that root cuttings may be successful.

Propagation by Grafting

A search of the literature failed to reveal a discussion of any method
of bench grafting with hickories, although presumably it must have been
tried. Propagators may have been discouraged in using bench graft
methods by the sparse roots usually found on two-year seedlings. It is
suggested that undercutting and root pruning the seedlings several times
while in the nursery row should produce a more adequate root system
which would transplant well after grafting. Brison(5) remarked that
bench grafting is not used in the propagation of pecans in Texas on
account of transplanting difficulties.

Commercial nurserymen now prefer to bud hickories and pecans rather than
to graft, but formerly Reed(15) reported the whip-and-tongue method was
used on thrifty one-year seedlings in the nursery row. It is conceivable
that the cleft graft could be used at this stage when the diameter of
stock and scion are quite similar but no record of its use is available.

Top-working or grafting in the branches is commonly practiced on
seedling trees and sometimes used to change varieties in the orchard.
Reed(15), Sitton(19), Rosborough et al(18), MacDaniels(11), and
Stoke(22) have described various methods that have proven successful.
Practically all agree that the bark graft or a modification thereof is
best. Morris(12), Benton(3), MacDaniels(11), Wilkinson(25), and others
have shown that a greater per cent of survival is secured when the
stocks are cut 10 days to 2 weeks before grafting. During this time the
stubs heal somewhat and excess bleeding is decreased. It has been
reported by Becker(2) tha