144 



PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



kneaded and pulled till the color resembles molasses 

 taffy. To prevent its sticking to the skin, the hands are 

 kept greasy. Should lumps occur (because of improper 

 handling), it may be re-melted and re-cooked. Usually 

 the wax is made into balls or sticks for convenient use. 

 It will keep indefinitely. Linseed oil for making grafting 

 waxes must be free from adulterations such as cottonseed 



oil." Favorite formulae are as 

 follows : Resin 3 pounds, bees- 

 wax 3 pounds, tallow 2 pounds ; 

 a cheaper wax : Resin 4 pounds, 

 beeswax 2, tallow 1 ; resin 4, 

 beeswax 2, linseed oil 1 pint 

 increase oil for softness; resin 

 6, beeswax 2, linseed oil 1 pint. 

 128. Bridge or repair graft- 

 ing,* sometimes erroneously 

 called inarching, may be the 

 means of saving valuable trees 

 which have been injured by 

 mice, rabbits, hogs, human 

 carelessness or accident. 



Unless the girdle has cut 

 through the sap-wood it is an 

 error to say that bridge graft- 

 ing is necessary to establish 

 connection between root and 

 top, for the upward current of 

 sap passes through the sap- 

 wood and not through the bark. It is correct, however, to say 

 that the bridge establishes a connection between top and root, 

 for the downward flow of elaborated sap is through the 

 bark layers. As soon as the wound is discovered the 

 operation should be performed. If the injury occurs in 

 winter the wound should be protected to prevent drying. 



FIG. 103 ONE WRONG WAY 



TO MEND Y-CROTCH 

 The Y split because of over- 

 load of fruit, but the owner 

 brought it back to place with 

 tackles and put a chain around the 

 arms. Growth is burying the 

 chain. Notice the attempts of the 

 tree to heal the wounds made by 

 the cutting of limbs. The interior 

 of the trunk is decayed badly be- 

 cause of wrong methods of cut- 

 ting branches. 



Quoted from the author's book, Plant Propagation, Greenhouse and Nursery 

 Practice. 



