47 



about 50 waxed trees and 25 trees without wax for comparison. Inas- 

 much as the number of trees under test is rather small, it is perhaps 

 too early to say positively that parafine wax should be generally used 

 for this purpose. The results, however, were so good on the trees and 

 bushes under observation that it would seem desirable to experiment 

 further along this line. 



In the case of the preservation of walnut scions, and with experi- 

 ments in topworking and propagating fruit and nut trees, it has been 

 found that parafine wax is positively one of the most valuable pro- 

 tective materials used so far. The work done in grafting fruit and 

 nut trees has been under way for several years and includes hundreds 

 of trees. The results, moreover, have been so uniformly successful 

 where parafine wax was used and so unsatisfactory without its use 

 that one is justified in the above statement. In view of the favorable 

 results noted above and of the good effect which followed the use of 

 parafine wax on newly planted trees, it would appear that this ma- 

 terial is of decided value in preventing dessication. The suggestion is 

 therefore made that nurserymen at the time of digging try the eifect 

 of a thin coating of warm parafine to the trunks of trees or shrubs 

 that are to be shipped long distances or which are difficult to trans- 

 plant or carry over in storage. Fruit growers and others who plant 

 deciduous trees or shrubs might also get better results by using para- 

 fine wax on plants that have not previously been waxed. The hot wax 

 may be easily and quickly applied with a small paint brush after 

 digging or before planting or one might plant the tree and apply the 

 wax afterward. The cost of this treatment is very small indeed, being 

 less than a cent a tree for the wax. In any case no injury is likely 

 to occur and quite possibly good results would follow such treatment. 



If further trials show that parafine wax has definite value for the 

 purposes outlined above, it would be desirable to devise some means of 

 quickly waxing the trees in nurseries. In all probability this could be 

 done by means of a deep vat wherein the trunks and tops of small 

 trees or slirubs could be dipped in the hot wax and quickly withdrawn. 

 The optimum temperature of the wax has not been definitely ascer- 

 tained, but it is known that woody plant material can stand without 

 injury a temperature of 160 degrees F. It must be clearly under- 



