MICHIGAN STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 201 



always best to cut them in mild weather. Bury them either 

 in sawdust or saud, away from frost, but in a cool place, 

 neither too wet nor too dry ; but where they will keep fresh as 

 in their natural state. But I prefer, when I can do so, to 

 graft early in spring, before the buds swell, and take the scious 

 fresh from the tree, as I think they are more sure to get an 

 early start. 



GRAFTING-WAX. 



Permit me uow to give you one or two choice receipts for a 

 composition for grafting-wax: Take 2 pounds of rosin, 1^ 

 pounds of beeswax, and three-quarters of a pound of tallow 

 Melt the wax and tallow together, then slowly add the rosin, 

 pulverised. When thoroughly melted and mixed, pour the 

 whole into a pail of cold water. Then work it well with the 

 hands, using a little soft grease to prevent sticking. This I 

 have used and know to be good, though some prefer to add a 

 small quantity of linseed oil with less tallow — think it holds 

 its place better and not so liable to crack oflf. 



A late writer in the Western Rural gives this for a compo- 

 sition : 6 pounds rosin, 1 pound beeswax and one pint linseed 

 oil ; apply hot with a brush, one-eighth of an inch thick over 

 all the joints, and he says it never fails. 



TRIMMING OFF SPROUTS. 



One idea farther, I should have mentioned before, which is 

 very important, and that is to keep the sprouts well pruned 

 away from around the grafts. This is very essential to suc- 

 cess, as on a healthy stock the sprouts are sure to make a vigo- 

 rous start, and having all the advantage in strengtli, they draw 

 the sap, rob the grafts of their sustenance, and often cause them 

 to wither and die after they have leaved out. 



Thus we find by actual experience that with healthy stocks 

 fresh scions, and good care in performing our work, we may 

 change the variety of our fruit at will ; multiply them as we 

 may desire, and supply ourselves, our friends, and the market 



36 



