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 of patch budding are briefly as follows: 1st operation. Making parallel cuts on stock. See Figure 2. 2d operation. Making vertical cut to remove bark from stock. See Figure 3. 3d operation. Loosening patch on stock. See Figure 4. 4th operation. Making parallel cuts on bud stick. See Figure 5. 5th operation. Making vertical cut to remove bud patch from bud stick. See Figure 6. 6th operation. Taking bud off bud stick. See Figure 7. 7th operation. Inserting bud on stock. See Figure 8. 8th operation. Beginning the tie. See Figure 9. 9th operation. Wrapping the bud. See Figure 10. 10th operation. The completed operation. See Figure 11. Figure 12. Bud united.