78 



GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



or the amateur can make it himself. It should be soft 

 enough to be molded by the heat of the hand on a cool 

 day, but not so soft as to run when exposed to the heat 

 of the sun. It is essentially rosin and beeswax, with tal- 

 low or linseed oil enough to make it sufficiently soft. A 

 good formula is rosin 2 lbs., beeswax V/^ lb., tallow y, 

 lb. The better way for the amateur to use this is to melt 

 the whole together thoroughly, and then dip in it strips 

 of well-worn cloth, such as may be torn from a worn-out 

 sheet or calico dress. These waxed strips will tear read- 



Fig. 33. — GRAFTING THE CAMELLIA. 



ily, and may be neatly fitted to the graft to make a com- 

 plete covering. The fingers should be slightly greased 

 when applying the waxed cloth. We find in our prac- 

 tice of grafting Roses, for which we use mainly the Ma- 

 netta Rose stock, to do the work from January to March, 

 a slight bottom heat is indispensable for the best success; 

 that is, from sixty-five to seventy-five degrees bottom 

 heat, with ten degrees less ^'top" heat, must, as near as 



