THE PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES. 11 



tion formed by melting together tliree pounds of resin, a pound 

 and a quarter of lard and a pound and a lialf of "beeswax. The 

 balls are taken out while hot and allowed to drain, and when 

 cool are ready for use. The graft is taken in one band by tbe 

 root, witb tbe otber tbe end of tbe string is laid on tbe lower end 

 of tbe lap of tbe scion, and by twirling the graft in tbe fingers 

 tbe thread is wound tigbtly round botb stock and scion at tbe 

 place of union sufficiently often to bold tbe parts together firmly, 

 and tben tbe thread is broken off. Tbe wax bolds the string in 

 place without any tying, wbile it also preserves the thread from 

 rotting until tbe imion is perfected, and tbe expansion of growtb 

 causes it gradually to give way. 



By consulting the engravings this metbod of grafting will be 

 readily understood. Figure 3, page 9, sbows tbe sloping cut made 

 Tipon tbe stock and scion. Figure 4, page 1 0, sbows the cleft made 

 in tbem to form tbe tongue. Figure 5 sbows tbem put together. 

 Figure 6 sbows tbe graft tied witb a strip of bass-matting or 

 cotton clotb. Figure 7 sbows tbe same covered mtb wax to 

 protect tbe imion from tbe weatber, and Figure 8 sbows tbe 

 graft neatly wound witb a strip of waxed cotton or paper. 



The waxed cloth or paper is prepared by dipping tbe clotb 

 or paper into tbe same preparation as that in whicb tbe baUs of 

 cotton yam are boiled, when it is quite bot, and tben drawing 

 tbe sbeet between a couple of sticks, so as to scrape off tbe super- 

 fluous wax, and wben cold, cutting it into strips of tbe req\iired 

 width. Many use these strips in cleft-grafting, instead of tbe 

 pure wax. Sometimes wben tbe clotb or paper is too strong, it 

 does not give way under tbe growtb of tbe tree, and requires to 

 be cut or removed, in order to prevent it from binding and injuring 

 tbe tree. 



Scions sbould be selected from bealtby trees, and should be 

 cut from tbe thrifty, well ripened sboots of tbe last season's 

 gro-\vtb. In this climate, it is safest to cut them in Kovember, 

 before the severe frosts of winter. Sometimes tbe cold of tbe 

 winter is so severe that tbe young wood is injured. If not cut 



