PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 237 



angle, so as to insure, at least at tlie point of intersec- 

 tion, the close contact of the cambium layers (Fig. 77). 



[e) All exposed cut surfaces should be carefully waxed, t} 

 keep out air and moisture. 



Grafting-wax is made by breaking into small pieces 

 two to two and one-lialf parts (by weiglit) beeswax and 

 four to five parts resin, and melting them together with 

 one part of tallow or linseed oil. The greater the pro- 

 portion of resin and beeswax, the harder the grafting- 

 wax will be. When tliis mixture is melted, pour it into 

 cold water. As soon as it is cooled enough to handle, 

 remove tlie wax from the water and pull like taffy until 

 it becomes light colored. It may be applied with tlie 

 fingers, if the hands have been carefully greased, or ap- 

 plied with a little stick while the wax is hot, if care be 

 taken not to injure the parts waxed. 



{U) Crown-grafting. — This method is gener- 

 ally used for shrubs, grape-vines, etc. 



Directions : In crown-grafting the stock is prepared 

 by cutting off the plant at the surface of the ground. 



The process is the same as that of top-grafting, the 

 only difference being \.\\^ positiofi of the graft. 



IV. Layering. 



This method of asexual reproduction differs 

 from that of cutting, budding, and grafting, in 

 that the new plant is rooted while still attached 

 to the parent plant. This is not only the sim- 

 plest, but also the most certain, method of bud 

 propagation wherever practicable. In nature 

 familiar examples of layering are the black rasp- 

 berry (Fig. 55), strawberry, and dewberry. In 

 fact, very many plants will send out roots if 

 brouirht in contact with moist soil. 



