366 Editor's Lettcr-Box. 



Grafting Clay. — It would be timely to call the attention of the readers of 

 your Journal to the fact, that in all cases where grafting-wax is generally used, it 

 is better to apply instead a clay paste, tempered with fresh cow dung, to make it 

 more adhesive. The least excess of tallow or oil in the composition of the 

 grafting-wax is very deleterious, — it kills the wood as deep as it strikes in; 

 besides, it is thus a worse than useless expense, and is very tedious in appli- 

 cation. 



When the surface of amputated stumps is large, or a young tree nearly broken 

 off, or the bark on a tree bruised or sunburnt, besides using the paste, the parts 

 should be loosely wrapped in with refuse cloth or rags, thus shading them, and 

 promoting the flow of sap to the wound. It is the best unguent for all kinds of 

 sores, and is always handy. J. S. 



Martinez, Cal. 



We are obliged to our correspondent for his note, but we must say that, 

 having tried the clay for grafting purposes, we have long since given it up for 

 wax, which we have found far less bulky, much more easily applied, and entirely 

 free from the objectionable qualities which our correspondent attributes to it. 

 We print his note, however, for the benefit of those, if any there are, who have 

 met with the same trouble in the use of wax as he describes. 



As an application to a tree broken off, or stripped of its bark, we can recom- 

 mend it as superior to any other application. Directions for preparing it will be 

 found in any of the old books on gardening, but as these may not be accessible 

 to our readers, we will say, that the method is to mix equal parts of common 

 yellow clay from the brick yard and cow dung, adding water sufficient to bring it 

 to about the consistency of common lime mortar. If the clay has been worked 

 and tempered, the proportion of cow dung may be somewhat greater. It is better 

 prepared some time beforeliand, and worked over a little every day. In case a 

 tree is stripped of its bark, with no clay ready, and no time to prepare any, there 

 is nothing better than to wrap it right up in fresh cow dung, which appears to be 

 a great promoter of the healing of such wounds. 



B. S. A. — The reason your pop corn " won't pop " is, that the variety is not 

 pure. You have no doubt allowed it to become mixed with other varieties by 

 planting it too near. In our experience we have found no kind of corn so hable 

 to deteriorate by mixing with others as the small flint corn used for popping, 

 and corresponding pains must be taken to keep it pure. Get some fresh seed 

 from a source where you are certain of its purity, and plant it so far away from 

 any other corn that no other pollen than its own shall reach it. It is difficult to 

 do this in a small garden, but it is the only way. The pollen is borne in tlie 

 staminate flower, at the top of the stalk, commonly called the " tassel," and fer- 

 tilizes the seed by falling on the "silk," which is in reahty the styles of the 

 pistils of the fertile flowers. 



Fruit Prospects. — From nearly every part of the country the reports which 

 reach us are of an uncommonly favorable prosjDect for the fruit crop. 



