54 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



and keep them in sand or moss moist, but not wet, in a place too 

 cool for the buds to swell, but do not allow them to freeze. 



"When ready to use them, cut the scions in pieces of two or 

 three buds each. With one upward stroke of a sharp knife, cut 

 the stock from the crown or point where the root and top join at 

 such an inclination that the length of the cut will be about four 

 times the diameter of the stock. Select a 

 scion as near the size of the stock as possi- 

 ble, and cut it at the same inclination with 

 a downward stroke (fig. 8.) Place the two 

 inclined surfaces together in such a way that 

 the outer edge of the wood of each piece will k a 

 come in contact with that of the other in as 

 many points as possible without regard to 

 the external portions of the bark. Bind the 

 parts firmly in this position with strips of 

 paper on which grafting wax has been spread. 

 A more perfect contact of the parts can be 

 Fig. 8. obtained, and the chances of displacement Fig. 5. 

 lessened, by inserting the knife across the cut of both stock and 

 scion and splitting them through the centre, (fig. 9,) so far that 

 their parts can be sprung, and admit the shorter 

 end of each into the split thus made in the other 

 (fig. 10.) The edges of the wood should be adjust- 

 ed, and the waxed paper applied as before (fig. 11.) 

 The best grafting wax is made by melting to- 

 gether four pounds of resin, two pounds of bees- 

 wax, and one and a half pounds of tallow. When 

 thoroughly melted, pour it into water, and when 

 cool enough to handle, work it thoroughly in the 

 hands, remembering always that too much work- 

 ing won't injure it. The consistency of the wax 

 Fig. 11. is changed by the quantity of tallow used. It is 

 applied to paper or cloth with a brush, after having thoroughly 

 worked as above described, and then re-melted. 



Every person should make his own wax, as, Avhen improperly 

 made, it does great injury to the trees. 



After having grafted as described, the stocks should be replaced 

 in sand. When the season is sufficiently advanced, they should 



Fig. 10. 



