17 



order to secure this advantage, the cuttings for scions should be removed 

 from the trees in the winter, and kept in a cool place till they 

 are required. Straight thrifty shoots of the previous season's growth 

 must be selected for the purpose, and the scions should each have 

 three or four buds. It is advisable that scions should be selected only 

 from healthy vigorous trees, and those from weakly or sickly sources 

 ought to be rejected, as being likely to inherit the failings of their 

 parents. Care should also be taken, as far as may bo practicable, to use 

 scions from trees that are most perfect in character, as they often vary 

 considerably in this respect. Scions should not be allowed to suffer 

 from exposure to the air, and losses often occur through carelessness in 

 this respect. If the bark is much shrivelled it will be advisable to 

 discard the wood, as when it gets into that condition the vitality of the 

 branch is greatly impaired. 



Preparing Grafting Way.. In modern practice grafting wax is 

 extensively used by propagators, as it is a much neater and a more 

 perfect protection than clay, as generally used formerly. Ordinary 

 grafting wax is made from beeswax, resin, and tallow in equal propor- 

 tions. It may be applied directly round the graft, or spread in a melted 

 state over strips of cloth or paper, which can be wrapped round the 

 stems. What is known as French grafting wax is of two kinds, one 

 being made of one part each of pitch and beeswax, and two parts of 

 cowdung boiled together ; this is applied in a fluid state direct to the 

 graft. The other kind is composed of equal parts of beeswax, resin and 

 turpentine, which mixture is spread warm upon slips of cloth or strong 

 paper, which are wrapped around the graft. Various other grafting 

 compositions are in use by European cultivators, but all are to a large 

 extent made of resinous materials. One of the most popular is com- 

 posed of 28 parts of Burgundy pitch, an equal quantity of black pitch, 

 beeswax 6 parts, yellow ochre and grease of each 14 parts. These 

 materials are thoroughly mixed by boiling. When used the composition 

 is warmed sufficiently to bring it into a liquid state, but not made hot 

 enough to injure the tissues of the bark when applied. 



Preparing Grafting Clay. This material is obtained by taking two 

 parts of clay or stiff loam, and one-third cowdung, with a little hair as 

 used by plasterers. Work the mass well so that the materials are 

 thoroughly incorporated, and of such a consistency that the clay will be 

 plastic and easily spread over the grafts. 



INARCHING OR GRAFTING BY APPROACH. 



This is one of the oldest methods of grafting, nature having taught it 

 to mankind by examples of plants growing near to each other, being 

 joined together by their branches, stems or roots, through con- 

 tact. By this practice the stems or branches of two plants may 

 be united with less risk than by ordinary grafting, as the scion 

 is attached to its parent plant, and therefore able* to obtain 

 sustenance from it, till it becomes independent through a union 

 with the stock. Inarching is also serviceable in enabling the 



