44 



paraffin grafting had apjjartntly been completed, I included what I 

 knew of this subject in a little book, and this brought out letters 

 from all parts of the country, in fact from all parts of the world, 

 renainding me that I had not completed the subject of the use of 

 paraffin in grafting. From tropical countries men complained that 

 my suggestions about the use of one particular kind of paraffin, 

 "Parowax," were not applicHible to their part of the country where the 

 paraffin would melt in the summer sun. Then, from some of the 

 regions where the nights were cold, they said the paraffin would 

 crack and leave the stocks bare, owing to the change of temperature. 



We are consequently faced with a necessity for extending our in- 

 formation on this subject. My reason for presenting it, before I have 

 completed investigations, is to get suggestions from members of the 

 audience here, and from practical nurserymen. I have written a 

 number of books on various topics, and have never sent one out 

 without feeling sorry that it was not time for the next edition. 



The theory is that if we cover a graft completely with melted 

 paraffin, including the entire scion, buds and all, we have accomplished 

 several things. In the first place, the paraffin prevents the graft from 

 drying out before new cells can make union with cells of the scion. 



In the second place it fills all interstices where sap would collect. 



In the third place is provides an airtight covering so that the free 

 sap pressures, negative and positive, under different temperatures, 

 will be analogous in stock and scion. When there is low sap pressure 

 we assume that some of the sap may be drawn out of the scion. This 

 airtig'ht covering prevents that. 



In the fourth place it provides a translucent covering, wliich 

 allows action by the actinic rays of light, which brings the chlorophyll 

 into activity. All plant growth is conducted under the influence of 

 chlorophyll, ,'uul the actinic rays of light activate this. Consequently, 

 I seemed to have a perfect grafting material in this Parowax, which 

 we may find in any grocery store. In my locality this wax worked 

 perfectly and, theoretically, nothing more was to be desired. It 

 melts at 125 degrees farenheit. 



I have brought with me a specimen of a pear tree that I grafted 

 in this way in July of this year. You will see that the Parowax 

 covering is' still complete. The new shoots have grown about eight 

 inches since July 1, and I do not see how you could imagine anything 

 more perfect than this specimen, from which I wrote my description in 



