GRAFTAGE 



131 



Besides grafting wax some other substances have been used. 



Shellac has been successfully used and would seem to be simple 

 to apply and effective, providing the solvent alcohol does not injure 

 the tissues. 



Paraffin is useful in herbaceous plant grafting. When used 

 outside it is thought to have especial value because, being trans- 

 parent, it allows light to reach the cambium thus causing more 

 active growth. 



Fig. 77. Inarched seedling Roses. Just as in figure 73-A the bark is cut on both 



stock and cion and tied together. The seedling Rose is tied to the rose stock 



(See page 129) 



Applying the wax. The wax should be applied by working it in 

 the hands in the form of a flat ribbon. Start in one place and go as 

 far as possible with one piece; a quarter of an inch or less is thick 

 enough, but let all joints between different pieces of wax be thor- 

 oughly worked together so that no air nor water may enter. Cover 

 all cut surfaces. Some workers even wax the upper ends of the 

 cions. 



Waxed string is prepared by soaking a ball of No. 18 knitting 

 cotton for a few minutes in the kettle of melted wax. Waxed band- 

 ages are prepared the same way; the cloth should be torn into 

 widths of a half inch and rolled before dipping into the wax. 



