GRAFTING WAX. 115 



winter the scions are prepared, the stocks grafted, 

 and carefully packed away with rnoist earth or sand, 

 until they are planted in the open ground the follow- 

 ing spring. If they grow well, the nurseryman 

 gains one year over budding. The stocks and 

 scions must be prepared and put together with great 

 care. They are fastened by winding around the 

 stock narrow strips of strong paper or muslin, 

 coated with grafting wax and well secured. 



GRAFTING WAX. A neighbor, who, for the past 

 twenty years, has been very successful in grafting in 

 this vicinity, makes his own grafting wax. He uses 

 the following materials, in the relative proportion 

 named : 



4 Ibs. white rosin. 



1 " bees wax. 



1 pint of linseed oil. 



These substances are put into an iron vessel and 

 heated until they can be thoroughly mixed by stir- 

 ring. The compound is then thrown into cold water, 

 and worked by hand in a similar manner to drawing 

 molasses candy. 



At first the wax will be dark brown, but when 

 sufficiently worked the color changes to a light yel- 

 low. The wax is then formed into round sticks, 

 three or four inches in length and one in diameter. 

 It may be kept in water until wanted for use. 



