202 PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



shows that the exact proportions of materials, or, in fact, 

 the materials themselves, if of like nature, are not very 

 essential to success. For grafting in the open air, the 

 following compound is probably more generally used in 

 this country than any other : Common rosin, four parts ; 

 beeswax, two parts ; tallowy one part melted together ; 

 and after it is cool, it is applied by hand, or, when in 

 a liquid state (being melted), it may be applied with a 

 brush or spread thinly upon tough paper or muslin, and 

 the latter cut up into strips of convenient size for use. 

 If the wax is to be used in cool weather, then add a little 

 more tallow. Linseed oil is sometimes used in place of 

 tallow in the following proportions : Rosin, six pounds ; 

 beeswax, two pounds ; linseed oil, one pint. From my 

 own experience, I consider .tallow much preferable to oil, 

 and I would warn the novice against using indiscrim- 

 inately the different .kinds of oils often sold under the 

 name of linseed. In Europe, Burgundy pitch is more 

 generally used in making grafting-wax than in this 

 country. Some of the French authors recommend the 

 following : Melt together two pounds twelve ounces of 

 rosin, and one pound and eleven ounces of Burgundy 

 pitch. At the same time melt nine ounces of tallow ; 

 pour the latter into the former, while both are hot, and 

 stir the mixture thoroughly. Then add eighteen ounces 

 of red ochre, dropping it in gradually and stirring the 

 mixture at the same time. After the composition has 

 cooled sufficiently, work it well with the hands. If this 

 wax is to be used out of doors in cool weather, it should 

 be carried in a vessel like an ordinary glue-pot, in order 

 to keep it in a semi-fluid condition. All the above kinds 

 of wax may be spread upon cloth or tough paper with a 

 brush, when warm, and the paper or cloth cut up when 

 the wax is cool. In what is called splice or whip-graft- 

 ing, these waxed strips will be found very convenient for 

 wrapping about the parts united. 



