upon the arrangement of ions, anions
and cations upon two sides of the permeable membrane of a repair cell.
The cell is an electrolyte and therefore division of the cell in course
of preparation for multiplication might perhaps depend upon an electric
impulse so delicately in balance that Nature for some cryptic reason
might prefer not to allow the necessary balance to go toward cell
division in grafts consisting of green growth of the year in perennials.
Perhaps I might defeat natural processes by leaving a leaf or part of
one at the distal part of a green graft shoot. This leaf might perhaps
elaborate the necessary hormones or enzymes for wound repair
purposes--and also for conducting polarity of sap movement toward
maintenance of that scion and leaf.

We need not speculate further upon the philosophy of the subject because
I took it up at this point for pragmatic tests experimentally. The
horticulturist does not have to go to the theatre for thrills. My
advance report at this moment comes at a time when a scientist would
demand more works along with faith and my only reason for presenting
incomplete notes at this time is that they seem to be fascinating in
their outlook and no one knows how much experiment may be permitted me
for next year at Merribrooke.

The summer was well along when my canary bird shoots opened a vista. The
vista appeared at a time of drought when plant propagators wait for
better days. It seemed to be necessary to get in a part of the work at
least on July 28th and we then had the drought intensified by five more
days of great heat, temperatures ranged above 90 degrees F. in the shade
and above 140 degrees F. in the sun. After this period of heat and
drought we had abundant rains. All grafts were wax treated in these
experiments. In no case was an entire leaf left at the distal end of a
graft because it was felt that even one-fourth of one leaf would attend
to the required functions.

Exp. No. 1. A growing persimmon shoot about two feet long was cut up
into scions with a few buds each, and about one-fourth of a leaf allowed
to remain at the distal end of each scion, other leaves on each scion
being snipped off. Each scion including its remnant of leaf was dipped
in melted parapin wax. Two of these were grafted upon green shoots of
another persimmon, the latter cut back to make stubs for reception of
cleft grafts. Three of the scions were inserted in bark slots in older
wood. Note, Sept. 9th,