222 Principles of Plant Culture. 



spring, and are commonly stored, until needed for use, 

 in a cool cellar packed in moist sawdust, moss or 

 leaves. In climates of severe winters, they should al- 

 ways be cut in autumn. Cions should not be kept so 

 moist as to cause swelling of the buds or the forma- 

 tion of callus (72), nor so dry as to cause shriveling. 



In cion grafting the proximal end of the cion (115) 

 is joined to the distal end of the stock if the stock is a 

 stem, or to the proximal end if it is a root in such a 

 way that the cambium layers of the two coincide in at 

 least one place. Cion grafting in the open air is usu- 

 ally most successful when performed just before or 

 during the resumption of active growth in spring, and 

 the cion is thought to unite more readily if in a slightly 

 more dormant condition than the stock, possibly owing 

 to its more ready absorption of water when in this 

 state. 



The joints made in cion grafting are generally coated 

 with a thin layer of grafting-wax (387) or bound in 

 grafting paper-, cloth- or cord (308, 309), to prevent 

 evaporation and to keep out water. Sometimes the 

 whole exposed part of the cion is waxed. 



387. To Make Grafting- Wax for cleft-grafting 

 (392), melt together four parts, by weight, of un- 

 bleached rosin, two parts of beeswax and one part of 

 beef tallow; pour into water, and when sufficiently 

 cool, work with the hands* until the mass assumes a 

 buff color; make into rolls and wrap with parafined 

 (waxed) paper to prevent the rolls from sticking to- 

 gether. Several other formulas are in use. 



* The hands should be greased before touching the wax to pre- 

 vent sticking. 



