GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 13 



cloth coverings are to be kei)t on durintr the hottest part of the day 

 only, and when the first true leaf appears they may be removed alto- 

 gether and the shade necessaiy thereafter supi)lied by the lath slats. 

 Water must be sup[)lied if the soil needs it. With spring-sown seed, 

 the coverings over tiie lath shits may be disi)ensed with, but the sur- 

 face of the bed should not be allowed to become dry until the s(>edlinos 

 are large enough to take care of themselves. 



CRAFTINC; AM) RrDDlNO. 



In Italy and other silk-raising countries it is claimed that the leaves 

 of trees raised from cuttings and seeds are superior for silk produc- 

 tion, but that the quantity of leaves produced by trees so propagated 

 is oidy about one-half the bulk of those from grafted or budded trees. 

 Therefore, to produce a large (juantity. grafting and ])udding methods 

 of propagation are practiced to a great extent. B(>fore the beginner 

 undertakes these expensive methods of propagation in the United 

 States, however, he should consider that land rentals are high in 

 Europe and that land is cheap in the United States; therefore the 

 American can afford to grow more trees ])y the methods which are 

 instrumental in giving the best grades of silk. This is an important 

 point to consider, and the writer is inclined to the belief that in the 

 propagation of plants giving the highest grades of silk there will be 

 little danger of a scarcity of material, as the mulberry thrives as well, 

 if not better, in most parts of the United States as anywhere in 

 Europe. 



For those who decide to try propagating by grafting and ))udding 

 two of the most successful methods of performing the operation are 

 here described. 



ROOT GRAFTING. 



This is performed in February and March. The stocks, which are 

 two-year-old seedlings of the Russian mulberry (J/orus alha, variety 

 tatarica), should show a diameter of at least three-eighths of an inch 

 to give a satisfactory union. The stocks should be lifted in the fall 

 and " heeled in " out of the reach of frost. The scions should be cut 

 while in a dormant state and buried in damp sand in a protected place. 



In the latter part of February the work of root grafting (PI. XI) may 

 be started. The preparatorv work consists in securing a quantity of 

 strong tidy cotton, and of grafting wax made of beeswax tw^o parts, 

 of resin two parts, and of mutton tallow one part. Put the ingredi- 

 ents in a small tin bucket, place on a hot stove, and when melted drop 

 in one or more balls of the cotton, allowing them to remain in the 

 melted wax for live minutes; remove with a pointed stick. When 

 cool they are ready for use. Procure a deep box in which place the 

 stocks, keeping them covered with a dampened sack; another box 



