en us the highest percentage of successful unions. The operation
illustrated by figures 1 to 12, is as follows:

1. _Heading Back._

During the dormant period which is, roughly speaking, from November 1st
to March 1st, the seedling trees are cut back to stubs, the ends of
which may be from one to three inches in diameter. Wounds larger than
this size take years to heal and endanger the life of the tree. Large
trees can be operated on as well as small seedlings, only one has to go
higher up so as not to cut too large limbs. Figure 1 shows a seedling
pecan tree 18 inches in diameter, which was stubbed back in the winter
of 1911-1912 and successfully budded the following summer. The result of
this drastic heading-back is a numerous growth of vigorous, rapidly
growing shoots near the ends of the stubs, by which Nature endeavors to
heal over the wounds. The cambium in these vigorous, sappy shoots is in
the most active condition possible; just the condition most suitable for
the union of stock and scion. This optimum condition cannot be secured
except by the forced growth as the result of the heading back. Our
experiments, year after year, have shown that on the ordinary new
shoots, even on active young seedling trees, the percentage of
living buds was much less than on the forced shoots of the headed-back
trees.

[Illustration: Fig. 1. Seedling pecan tree, 18 inches in diameter, cut
back in winter, showing summer's growth of vigorous shoots ready for
budding.]

[Illustration: Fig. 2. First operation. Making parallel cuts on stock.]

[Illustration: Fig. 3. Second operation. Making vertical cut between
parallel cuts on stock.]

[Illustration: Fig. 4. Third operation. Loosening bark on stock.]

[Illustration: Fig. 5. Fourth operation. Making parallel cuts on bud
stick.]

[Illustration: Fig. 6. Fifth operation. Making vertical cut between
parallel cuts on bud stick.]

[Illustration: Fig. 7. Sixth operation. Taking bud from bud stick.]

[Illustration: Fig. 8. Seventh operation. Fitting bud to stick.]

[Illustration: Fig. 9. Eighth operation. Beginning the tie.]

[Illustration: Fig. 10. Ninth operation. Finishing the tie.]

[Illustration: Fig. 11. The tie complete.]

[Illustration: Fig. 12. Bud united.]

[Illustration: Fig. 13. Bud stick of present season's growth. The three
lower, or basal, buds are best.]

[Illustration: Fig. 14. Bud sticks of previous season's growth.]

The different steps in the operation