THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



cion fits tightly throughout its whole length, and to protect the 



wound completely with an air-tight covering. 



CThe wounds must now be covered with wax. Fig. 

 80 illustrates a stub after the covering has been ap- 

 plied. If the grafting is done in early spring when 

 the weather is cold, the wax will have to be applied 

 with a brush. The wax is melted in a glue-pot, which 

 is carried into the tree. But if the weather is warm 

 enough to soften the wax, it should be applied with 

 the hands. The hands are first greased to prevent 

 the wax from sticking. The two side or vertical por- 

 tions are applied first. The end of the mass of wax 

 in the hand is flattened into a thin portion about a 

 half inch wide. This portion is then laid over the bud 

 and held there by the thumb of the other hand, while 

 the wax is drawn downwards over the cleft, being 

 pressed down firmly upon the bark by the thumb of 

 the first hand. The wax gradually tails out until it 

 breaks off just below the lowest point of the cleft. 

 The flattened upper part is then wrapped around the 

 cion upon either side, completely and tightly encircling 

 it. A simple deft wrapping of the wax about the cion 

 makes a tighter joint than can be secured in twice the 

 time by any method of pinching it into place. Another 

 portion of wax is now flattened and applied over the 

 Fig- ?8. end of the stub. Many grafters apply a bit of wax to 



Cleft graft the fc Q the cion alsQ A1 j the woun( j s mU st be 

 cion. 



covered securely. 



The top-grafting of large trees is an important operation, and 

 there are many men 

 who make it a business. 

 These men usually 

 charge by the stub and 

 warrant, the warrant 

 meaning that one cion 

 of the stub must be 

 alive when the counting is done late in summer. From two to 



Fig. 79. A cleft grafting-knife. 



