GRAFTING-WAXES 513 



Melt all together gradually, turn into cold water and work as above. 

 On account of the impurities contained in linseed oil, its use is not 

 recommended for grafting wax. In general the tallow is to be preferred. 



Alcoholic wax. 



The alcoholic or liquid wax is a thick paste. It is useful for work 

 in winter when the resin wax can not be applied ; and also for cover- 

 ing the wounds where bark has been injured or removed, and for bridge 

 grafts. 

 Lefort's hquid wax : 



White resin, 1 pound. 



Beef tallow, 1 ounce. 



Turpentine, 1 tablespoonful. 



Alcohol, 5 ounces. 

 Melt the resin slowly. When hot, add the beef tallow. Remove 

 from the fire and add slowly, stirring constantly, the turpentine and 

 alcohol. Keep in closed bottles or cans. Use a brush or swab to apply. 



Pitch wax. 



Some of the French authors recommend the following : — 

 Two pounds 12 ounces of resin and 1 pound 11 ounces of Burgundy 

 pitch. At the same time melt 9 ounces of tallow ; pour the latter 

 into the former, while both are hot, and stir the mixture thoroughly. 

 Then add 18 ounces of red ocher, dropping it in gradually and stir- 

 ring the mixture at the same time. 



Waxed string and bandages. 



1. Waxed bandage. Waxed bandages are very useful for covering 

 wounds where the bark has been broken or injured. They are prepared 

 as follows. 



Old cloth is torn into strips of the desired width and the strips 

 wound into balls, or bandage cloth (not gauze) may be used. These 

 balls are placed in the kettle of melted resin wax. In a few min- 

 utes they will be thoroughly saturated, when they should be re- 

 moved and allowed to drain and dry. 



2. Waxed string for root-grafting. Into a kettle of melted resin 

 wax place balls of No. 18 knitting cotton. Turn the balls frequently, 

 and in a few minutes they will be thoroughly saturated. Remove from 



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