PROPAGATING APPLE- TREES. 55 



tallow, and two pounds of beeswax; pulverize the resin 

 first, and put into a clean, dry iron pot over a slow fire ; 

 stir constantly, until it is all dissolved ; then add the tal- 

 low and wax, and stir the mixture until it is melted ; pour 

 the mass into a vessel containing cold, clean water ; com- 

 mence immediately at the edge of the wax, and pull pieces 

 of it, as you would pull molasses-candy, rubbing your hands 

 first with tallow ; and continue to do so, now and then, un- 

 til it is finished ; but work it no longer than is necessary 

 to take the water out. Separate it in rolls six inches long, 

 and a little thicker than a candle. Put these rolls on a dish 

 or pie-pan in the cellar until wanted for use. They will 

 keep for years. One day before using, hang them in the 

 kitchen, not near the fire, and they will become pliable. 

 Always have a piece of tallow near, to rub the hands while 

 using the wax, as tallow will prevent it sticking to the fin- 

 gers. Less beeswax and more tallow may be employed, if 

 desirable. Grafting-wax may be made without beeswax; 

 still, a small proportion of beeswax will render the mixture 

 much more valuable. 



Liquid Grafting- wax. Figure 33 represents a vessel for 

 containing liquid grafting-wax, to be ap- 

 plied with a small paint-brush. The large 

 outside vessel may be of cast-iron or tin. 

 A common tea-kettle will subserve the same 

 purpose. A small tin pail, to receive the 

 wax, is placed in the opening of the kettle. 

 At the top of the wax-kettle there is a 

 broad flange to support it. The wax in 



Pot for grafting- wax. . , . 



the small kettle is heated by the hot water 

 in the large vessel, without danger of burning it. 



