Propagation. 33 



2. The second requires that the jaws of the stock, in cleft-grafting s 

 press with some force, but not too much, against the wedge-shaped 

 sides of the graft. A stock one-third of an inch in diameter will 

 sometimes do this sufficiently ; but three-quarters of an inch is a 

 more convenient size. In whip-grafting, the tongue and slit should 

 be firmly crowded or bound together. 



3. The third requisite is attained by close examination with the 

 eye. 



4. The fourth is accomplished by plasters of grafting-wax, or by 

 the application of grafting-clay. Grafting- wax may be made by 

 melting together rosin, tallow, and beeswax, in such proportions as 

 to admit of being easily applied when softened by warmth, but not 

 liable to melt and run in the sun's rays. An excellent grafting-wax 

 is made of three parts of rosin, three of beeswax, and two of tallow. 

 A cheaper composition, but more liable to adhere to the hands, is 

 made of four parts of rosin, two of tallow, and one of beeswax. 

 These ingredients, after being melted and mixed together, may be 

 applied in different ways. The wax may be directly applied when 

 just warm enough to run, by means of a brush ; or it may be spread 

 thickly with a brush over sheets of muslin, which are afterwards, 

 during a cold day, cut up into plasters of convenient size for apply- 

 ing ; or, the wax, after cold, may be worked up with wet hands, and 

 drawn out into thin strips or ribbons, and wrapped closely around 

 the inserted graft. In all cases success is more certain, when the 

 wax is closely pressed so as to fit to every part, and leave no inter- 

 stices ; and it is indispensable that every portion of the wound on 

 the stock and graft be totally excluded from the external air. In 

 cool weather, a lantern, chafing-dish, or hot brick, will be found 

 necessary to soften the plasters before applying them. 



The following figures represent the two most common modes of 

 grafting fruit-trees ; Figs. 27 to 30, representing successive stages 

 of whip or tongue grafting, from the sloping cut of the scion and 

 stock, to the completion of the operation by the covering with the 

 wax-plaster. 



Whip-grafting may be employed for large stocks, as shown by the 

 following cut. In order that the line of separation between the bark 

 and wood may coincide in both, the graft must be placed at one side 

 of the large stock, a, sloped and tongued for the reception of the 

 graft, b, their union being represented by c. (Fig. 31.) To facilitate 

 the wrapping of the wax plasters, one side and the upper point of 

 the stock are pared off with a knife, before the two are joined, as 

 shown by the dotted line. This is a good mode of grafting any 



2* 



