John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
There is some science to support the wounding bark to support sprouting, though I do not think he really read any of it. You do not need to go into the xylem, just damage the cambium over a node.
Simply put, the wounding of the phloem (phloem is the downwards transport) interupts upstem auxin which inhibits downstem budding. This is used in orchards and nurseries.
I guess one could say he was misguided?
