LABORATORY MANUAL OF HORTICULTURE 



by securing a ball of No. 16 knitting-cotton and placing it in 

 the kettle of melted wax of Formula 1. Allow the ball of cotton 

 to remain in the melted wax for at least five minutes, or until it 

 is completely saturated. The ball should be turned frequently, 

 in order to insure complete saturation. When finished, allow it 

 to cool, and wrap in oiled paper for future use. 



Why is cord prepared in this way superior for grafting pur- 

 poses to the ordinary wrapping-twine ? 



ALCOHOLIC WAXES 



Formula 3. Weigh out one and one-half pounds of white resin 

 and one fourth of a pound of beeswax. Place the ingredients in 

 a granite kettle and heat them until they are thoroughly incor- 

 porated. Remove the mass from the fire and stir until partially 

 cooled. Now gradually add enough alcohol to give to the mass, 

 when cooled, the consistency of thick paint. Describe the color 

 and the appearance of this wax and tell where it can best 

 be used. 



Formula 4. Weigh out one-half pound of white resin and one- 

 half ounce of rendered beef tallow. Heat the two substances 

 together until they are incorporated. Remove from the fire, 

 cool, and add one teaspoonful of turpentine. Stir the mass until 

 thoroughly mixed, and gradually add enough alcohol to make the 

 mass assume the consistency of thick honey. (From six to eight 

 fluid ounces of 95 per cent alcohol will usually be sufficient.) 



What are the differences between formulas 3 and 4 ? Describe 

 the appearance of the two waxes, and give your opinion as to 

 which is the best. 



PITCH WAX 



Formula 5. Weigh out twelve ounces of resin and six ounces of 

 Burgundy pitch and melt them together in a granite kettle, stir- 

 ring thoroughly. At the same time melt three ounces of rendered 

 beef tallow in another vessel. Pour both liquids together while 

 hot, and stir thoroughly. To this mass add four or five ounces 

 of red ocher, and stir the mixture until it is smooth and until 

 the different ingredients are completely incorporated. Describe 

 the mass and tell when and where it should be employed. 



NOTE. The linseed oil should be entirely free from cottonseed oil. 



These grafting-waxes may be made by groups of from two to four students. 



[HO] 



