ORCHARDS. 105 



Composition Cloth is made by clipping strips of thin 

 cloth into the above composition, and drawing it between two 

 stick.s to get off the superfluous matter. They may then be 

 torn into narrower strips tosuit the purpose for which they are 

 intended. These bands being weak will yield as the limb ex- 

 pands, so that no injury may be apprehended from their 

 tightness. 



Clay for Grafting is not so convenient, but it is as good 

 as any other plaster. When nothing is used with it, it is ne- 

 cessary to use bandages of rags, tow or the like, winding it 

 around to support the clay. The best clay composition may 

 be prepared by mixing pure clay with an equal quantity of 

 fine, fresh horse manure, with any fine hair worked into it. 

 If the clay is very tenacious, work in a little fine sand to re- 

 duce the strength of the clay. The proportions may be va- 

 ried according to the strength of the clay — some kind of 

 bands must be used to bind it closely to the stock and graft 

 when used in grafting. 



Plaster for Large Wounds. — Take equal parts fresh 

 cow-dung and clay well mixed and tempered with human 

 urine. When there are large hollows, cut out all the rotten 

 and decayed wood and fill the cavity well with the composi- 

 tion — finish the outer edge well and smoothly. It may be 

 applied with a garden or bricklayer's trowel. If in shrink- 

 ing the surface becomes cracked, fill in with more of the com- 

 position. 



Shellac Composition. — Alcohol and shellac are used by 

 dissolving the shellac until it is of the consistence of thick 

 paint — apply with a painter's brush. This is a very conve- 

 nient and elegant plaster — it excludes air and water, and is 

 not aifected by cold or hot weather. It may be made in the 

 following manner: Take one pint of strong spirits and dis- 

 solve it in as much shellac as will make a liquid of the con- 

 sistence of paint. Apply this to the wound with a common 

 painter's brush, always paring the surface of the wound 

 smoothly with the knife. The liquid soon becomes perfectly 

 hard, adheres closely, excludes the air perfectly, and is affected 

 by no changes of weather; while at the same time its thin- 



