except that then there is more time. With larger trees this counts for a
good deal, but in the smaller ones I like to cut them off just where I
want to graft at the time of doing so. However, they may be cut off when
dormant at the point of selection for grafting and later grafted without
further cutting back. This reduces, or does away with the risk of
bleeding. Except in very small stocks it is better to leave a number of
the lower branches to prevent bleeding. When bleeding does occur it may
be checked by making one or more cuts with the knife or saw into the
sapwood of the trunk below the graft. Better results come when the
cutting back is of the top branches and not the lower ones because of
the stronger flow of sap toward the top of the tree. In my opinion a
side branch should always be left at the point where the stock is cut
off to maintain a circulation of sap. Otherwise the stub will often die
back and the graft fail. Also, the cambium close to a side branch will
be observed to be thicker and I infer that the circulation of sap is
more active. I prefer to cut off the top half, or two-thirds of the tree
and graft into the top and the side branches near the top.

Hickories in full foliage may usually be cut back without evident harm.
Occasionally a tree will be apparently shocked to death. Sometimes when
a tree in foliage is cut back severely the remaining leaves will turn
black and partly, or completely, die, but the tree will throw out
vigorous new growth later.

Trees up to three inches in diameter may have the whole top cut off, at
the risk of occasionally shocking a tree to death. Such complete cutting
back must be done in the dormant season or there will be severe and
prolonged bleeding. This method has the advantage of forcing a
tremendous growth in the grafts which will need careful support. This is
much more easily done however, than when the grafts are in the top of
the tree. Cutting back in the dormant season and painting with paraffine
has not worked well for me as the paraffine has not adhered well for any
length of time to the freshly cut surfaces. Probably this could be
easily remedied if it were a real advantage. In the case of small stocks
and branches where there is no bleeding and the paraffine adheres well
green callus will often be seen spreading out beneath the paraffine over
the cut surface.

Stocks should be vigorous. Dwarfed, stunted, submerged, hide bound trees
make poor stocks. This