436 



REPORT OF STATE BOARD OP HORTICULTURE. 



Stock into which it is inserted, in order to cause the growing- portions of the 

 two to cross. 



Grafting wax — In this climate a soft wax is not desirable for exposed 

 work. Soft wax may be used in whip-grafting, but in cleft-grafting, where 

 all wounded surfaces are exposed to the weather, a hard wax, made by melt- 

 ing together five pounds resin, two and a half pounds beeswax, and one-half 

 pound of tallow, or one-half pint linseed oil, is preferable. 



Waxing is quite as important as a proper adjustment of the scions. This 

 consists in covering all cut or exposed surfaces with grafting wax, grafting 

 clay, or some non-corrosive substance which will exclude air and moisture. 

 The wax may be applied hot, with a brush, but the safest plan is to spread it 

 with the hand while it is only sufficiently heated to allow it to be worked 

 like taffy. If spread carefully over all cut surfaces and pressed closely, upon 

 cooling it will form a sleek coating quite impenetrable to air and moisture. 



Waxed string — The wax for this purpose should be a softer wax than that 

 to be used on parts above ground, hence the following is preferred : Resin 

 four parts by weight ; beeswax two parts : tallow one part. Heat until all 

 parts go into solution, then pour into a pail of cold water. Work in the 

 hands until all lumps have been softened and the mass is of uniform consist- 

 ency. This will be found to be an excellent wax for cool climates, as well 

 as a superior one for soaking knitting cotton to bind stock and scion together 

 in whip, saddle or veneer grafting. Melt a portion of the wax above 

 described in a convenient receptacle and dip a ball of No. 18 knitting cotton 

 into the molton wax, leaving it long enough to become thoroughly soaked ; 

 remove to allow it to cool and the waxed twine is ready for use. If pre- 

 ferred, strips of muslin or other light cloth can be soaked in the molten wax 

 and used as a substitute for the waxed cord. In general, however, it is 

 believed that the waxed knitting cotton will be found most convenient. 



Whip-grafting — This style of grafting is the one 

 most universally used in root-grafting. It has the 

 advantage of being well adapted to small plants 

 only one or two years of age, as well as the other 

 great consideration that it can be done indoors 

 during the comparative leasure of winter. 



The graft is made by cutting the stick oft" di- 

 agonally — one long, smooth cut with a sharp 

 knife, leaving about three-fourths of an inch of 

 cut surface, as shown in Fig. XXI, which is ideal. 

 Without changing the stock, place the knife about 

 one-third of the distance from the end of the cut 

 surface, at right angles to the cut, and split the '[ 

 part in the direction of its long axis. Cut the , 

 reverse end of the scion in like manner, as 1 

 shown in Fig. XXII, and when the two parts^j ^cxi 

 are forced together, as shown in Fig. XXIII, the Fig. XXlll. 



cut surfaces will fit neatlytogether and one will neai-ly cover the other, if 

 scion and stock are of the same size. A difference in diameter of the two 

 parts to be united may be disregarded, unless it be too great. After the 



Fig. XXII 



