GRAFTING. 47 



inch is a more convenient size. In whip-grafting, 

 the tongue and slit should he firmly crowded or 

 hound together. 



3. The third requisite is attained hy close exa- 

 mination. 



4. The fourth is accomplished hy plasters of 

 graft ing- wax, and by the application of grafting- 

 clay. Grafting- wax may be made by melting to- 

 gether one pound of beeswax, two of tallow, and 

 four of rosin.* It is spread, when melted or soften- 

 ed, on muslin or thin unsized paper, with a brush 

 or spatula. It is sometimes applied without plas- 

 ters, in which case it should be worked with wet 

 hands, until it may be drawn out into ribbons of 

 wax, which are wrapped round the part. In all 

 cases it should be applied closely, so as to allow if 

 possible no interstices, and cover every cut or split 

 surface otherwise exposed to the air. In cool 

 weather, a lantern, chafing-dish, or hot brick, is 

 necessary to soften the plasters before applying 

 them. 



The annexed figures represent the two most 

 common modes usually adopted for fruit-trees; fig. 

 1, representing whip-grafting, which if well per- 

 formed with the parts closely pressed together, 

 needs no ligature to keep the graft to its place ; 

 and fig. 2, the common mode, or cleft-grafting, 



* More wax and less rosin is less adhesive to the hands, 

 but more expensive. 



