104 ORCHARDS. 



al)Out one-eiglith of an inch, and the edges finished off as 

 thin as possible. Next, five parts of dry pulverized wood 

 ashes should be mixed with one part of bone-ashes or dust, 

 and then put into a tin box, the top of which is perforated 

 with holes. The powder must be sprinkled over the surface 

 of the composition, being suffered to remain half an hour for 

 absorbing the moisture, when an additional portion of the 

 powder should be gently applied with the hand, till the whole 

 plaster acquire a smooth surface. As the edges of such ex- 

 cisions grow up, care ought to be taken that n5 7ietv wood 

 may come in contact with the decayed ; for which purpose it 

 will be advisable to cut out the latter, in proportion as the 

 former advances ; a hollow space being left between both, in 

 order that the newly-grown wood may have sufficient room to 

 extend, and fill up the cavity, so that in a manner it forms a 

 new tree. By this process old and decayed trees have, in the 

 second season after its application, produced fruit of the best 

 quality and finest flavor; nay, in the course of three or four 

 years, they yielded such abundant crops, as young healthy 

 trees could not have borne in 15 or 20 years. Previously to 

 the application of the plaster Mr. F. directs all decayed, hol- 

 low, loose, rotten, injured, diseased and dead parts to be cut 

 away, till the knife extend to the sound or solid wood, so as 

 to leave the surface perfectly smooth, wdien the composition 

 prepared in the manner above described should be applied. 



PRUNING AND GRAFTING COMPOSITIONS. 



Grafting Composition may be used on all wounded parts 

 of a tree. It is made of one part beef tallow, two parts 

 beeswax, four parts white resin, melted and well mixed — pour 

 it in a vessel of cold water and work and pull well, as in 

 making: shoemaker's wax. This mixture is not liable to be- 

 come too soft or melt in warm weather, nor too hard for use 

 in cold weather. Be careful to have it of proper temper, so 

 that when applied in cold weather, it will not peel off. It 

 should be pressed closely to the wounded parts, in order that 

 moisture and air maybe excluded, whether used in grafting or 

 pruning. 



