12 TYIJfG OF GRAFTS. 



fasten off, then cut the end of the bass close 

 off, for if the end is left an inch long, which I 

 have often seen, it prevents the clay from 

 being properly closed, consequently admit- 

 ting the air to the graft, which often proves 

 fatal. 



The next thing is putting on the clay, com- 

 monly called dabbing : this is done by a boy 

 who follows the man who ties ; having put his 

 clay into something to carry it with him, he 

 must take a small piece of clay sufficient to 

 cover the whole of the incision, and to come 

 about half an inch above the top of the stock, 

 in order that it may hang well on the shoulder ; 

 this he should roll up in his hands nearly in 

 the form of an egg, then make a hollow in one 

 side of it with one hand, sufficiently deep, that 

 when it is put on the stock, it will enclose it 

 all round alike. 



After the dabber follows another boy, called 

 the closer ; he follows with a pot of dry ashes, 

 or dust, to rub his hands with to keep them 

 from sticking to the clay, and closes up every 

 crack, squeezing it tight round the bottom of 

 the clay to keep it from slipping ; then making 

 it perfectly smooth, nearly in the form of an 

 egg, it finishes the grafting. 



