EXPERIMENTS IX ORCHARD CULTURE. 



25 



Waxing is one of the most important factors in successful 

 grafting. The work must be done carefully, that the cions be 

 not disturbed, and completely, that all air and moisture shall be 

 excluded. A very good wax is made by melting together four 

 pounds of resin, two pounds of beeswax and one pound of tallow. 

 When melted, pour into a tub of cold water to cool ; then pull, 

 the same as for taffy, until it is of a clear golden color. Of 

 course grafting should be done on warm, bright days ; otherwise 

 the wax hardens so quickly it is difficult to do the work well. 



Young trees may be re-topped in a single season ; a tree eight 

 to ten years old in two years, and one of twenty or more years 



Figure 15. A top-workefl tree showing a defectiv'^e seedling stock. 



in three seasons. Of the accompanying illustrations, Figure 13 

 shows a six-year-old tree in the Station orchard before top- 

 grafting. Figure 14 shows the same tree after the operation. 

 Three years later the new top produced one bushel of fruit. 



The suggestion to top-graft orchard trees — like most other 

 advice — must be followed intelligently and adapted to specific 

 needs and conditions. At the present time, however, the top- 

 working of certain varieties, like the Baldwin, is highly recom- 

 mended for general orchard practice by some of the most suc- 

 cessful growers. There must be some reason, real or imaginary, 



