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["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

I don't know about all situations, but when I do bark grafts on persimmon, with stock that is at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, I have never had trouble with blow-outs.  First, because the bark is pretty thick and holds the scions tight.  Second, I use a two bud scion.  Third, I wrap the stock very tightly with plastic tape (I prefer something like flagging tape, with no adhesive on it).   And I seal it with Doc Farwell's.  In a windier location, there may be blowouts, but  not with mine.  I figure that with the large stock, the bark doesn't tear easily; and there is more energy to heal the graft in really well, and quickly.  Additonally, a short scion is less prone to pulling loose.  It works well enough I have taken pictures of my persimmon grafts to show how fast they heal in.  Most only have a small circle of uncovered wood showing on the end of the stock by the close of the season, and by the middle of the second year, the graft is continuous with the stock.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Nov 21, 2005, at 5:55 PM, Richard Moyer wrote:

Lucky and others,
I took your advice, rubbed all the buds off religiously, and my kaki whip grafts took off after sitting there for several weeks. 
Then had to stake them as Jerry (and you) suggested, due to several feet of growth and side branches.
Why questions:
Why, with the greater damage of blowouts, do you prefer bark grafts over whip grafting?  On seedling rootstock, the proper diameter for the scion is there, if not, I do cleft grafts, which also are stronger than bark grafts.  In my lack of experience here, please help me understand the attraction of bark grafts for persimmon.
 
Why, compared to apples, pears, pawpaws, mayhaw, cherry, etc, is persimmon so particular about removing ALL competing buds on the rootstock?  What are the hormonal/physiological reasons that are at play here, that are absent in so many other woody plants?