PROPAGATION \\\ HI I)I>IN<; AND GRAFTING. 77 



variety is grown from a cutting, or a cutting grafted on a 

 very short piece of root to favor starting growth, the trees 

 are as thrifty and long lived as when grown by budding or 

 grafting on a whole root. Where tender roots are liable 

 to root-killing, as in the prairie States, there is a great 

 gain in using a scion eight inches long on a piece of root 

 two or three inches long. Such root-grafts set in nursery 

 down to the top bud usually root from the scion in the 

 nursery rows, and if they fail to do so they will root when 

 set four or five inches deeper in orchard. With the apple 

 ordinary seedling-roots give on an average two to three 

 sections for grafting. But with the pear, cherry, and 

 plum, only the upper part of the seedling is used and the 

 scion is inserted at the crown. 



83. Grafting-wax for Varied Uses. The most useful 

 graft ing-wax for varied uses is known as " French mastic " 

 or Lefort's liquid grafting-wax. For a long period the 

 composition of this wax was a trade secret in Europe and 

 America. It is made by melting one pound of white 

 resin slowly. When hot add one ounce of beef -tallow. 

 When melted take away from the fire and add slowly, with 

 constant stirring, one tablespoonful of turpentine and five 

 ounces of alcohol. During recent years we have used 

 wood alcohol, which seems to answer the purpose well 

 where alcohol is not readily obtainable in the prohibition 

 States. 



The liquid wax is used for all indoor grafting and can 

 be used for top-grafting in the open air if a strip of white 

 cotton cloth is wrapped over it while yet soft to prevent 

 melting or cracking. In indoor and outdoor grafting it 

 works best by keeping it soft by the flame of a small kero- 

 sene lamp under the dish. The dish is set over an open- 

 ing in the top of a small iron box with a door in the side 

 for setting in and caring for the small lamp. The finger 



