BULLETIN 231] WALNUT CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 237 



waxing. Grafting wax should be prepared as described on page 221, and 

 every part of the exposed surface should be very carefully painted over 

 with a solid coating of wax. Great pains should be taken to see that 

 no spots are left, however small, either on the cut end of the limb or the 

 clefts containing" the scions, which are not completely covered with wax. 

 If any opening is left through which the air may penetrate, drying and 

 oxidizing the fresh surfaces of the scion or stock, the grafts will almost 



FIG. 38. Top-grafting; scions starting into growth. 



certainly perish. Much care should be taken while waxing not to knock 

 out or disturb the scions in the least. One waxing is not sufficient, but 

 after a few days the grafts should be gone over again, closing carefully 

 any places found to be unwaxed. A little later, when the grafts begin 

 to grow and swell more or less, it will be found that the wax is very 

 likely to split or peel off and so they should be watched very carefully 

 until thoroughly united and kept liberally covered with wax. The pro- 



