38 



quite difficult to get it back. Therefore the blade should always be 

 protected by a sheath, never laid down or used for cutting raffia, or 

 anj^thing but the actual cutting of the graft. For this purpose a 

 leather sheath worn on the front of the belt, as first used by Dr. 

 Morris, is almost a necessity. This sheath may be made by any leather 

 worker and should have at least two pockets, one for the grafting 

 knife and one for another knife to be used for trimming, cutting 

 raffia and other odd' things. It is convenient to have a little pocket for 

 a pencil also and one may provide places 'for other articles of equip- 

 ment at fancy. 



I do not know that there is much to be said here about raffia. But 

 a great deal has been said, and will be said, elsewhere, when the raffia 

 is rotten and breaks in the middle of tying a graft. It is the devil's 

 own stuff to carry when you don't carry it right. The right way to 

 carry it is to tuck one end of the bundle under one side of your belt, 

 pass the bundle behind your back and the other end under the other 

 side of your belt. Then the raffia never gets mixed up with scions, 

 tools and profanity and the end of a strand is as handy as the knives 

 in your belt. On the whole I do not know of any binding material 

 as satisfactory as raffia. It is stronger and easier to use when it is 

 damp. 



One of the great advances in the art of grafting is the use of 

 melted wax. I believe that we have to credit ]Mr. Jones for this. The 

 use of paraffine for grafting wax we owe to Dr. ]\Iorris. To him 

 also we owe tlie ]\Ierri brook melter which has added so much to the com- 

 fort and convenience of grafting that it can be recommended as an 

 outdoor sport for ladies. I do not like the brush that Dr. Morris 

 recommends but prefer a stifFer one such as can be bought for ten 

 cents. 



Equipments vary with the individual and with the difference in the 

 work to be done. Mr. Slaughter carries into the nursery, when he is 

 working for Mr. Jones in the semi-tropical sun of Lancaster, a stool 

 with parasol attachment. Mr. Biederman of Arizona has the most 

 elaborate equipment which includes a table, planes, curved knives and 

 gouges. Dr. Morris carries a knapsack. I like an ordinary light 

 market basket that Mother Earth holds up for me when I'm not moving 

 from place to place. When in a tree I stuff my pockets with scions. 



A saw is usually a necessity. For portability I prefer a curved 

 one that has a draw cut. It has also an aesthetic element and doesn't 



