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Grafting Wax. 



Several formulae are given for the preparation of grafting wax. 

 They all, however, contain beeswax, resin, and either tallow or raw 

 (not boiled) linseed oil. 



In warm, regions, where the grafting wax is apt to run, raw 

 linseed oil is often preferred to the tallow, and the proportion of 

 resin is increased, whilst that of the beeswax is reduced, the cost 

 being thereby also reduced. 



Wax made of the following proportions, and well pulled, will 

 not crack, and will be little affected by the weather : 



Beeswax ...-., 1 to 21bs. 



Resin ' 41bs. 



Tallow lib. 



or 



Raw Linseed Oil pint. 



Slowly melt all together, stirring well to cause the ingredients 

 to better incorporate with one another. When ready to pull, in 1 5 

 to 20 minutes, pour into a bucket of lukewarm water. Then 

 grease the hands to prevent the wax sticking, and pull the wax 

 until it becomes light yellow and tough. Make into balls of con- 

 venient size, and throw into a bucket of cold water to stiffen, and 

 use when required. If too hard then, put a lump into warm water 

 for a few minutes, and it can soon be worked with the hands. 

 Some prefer to put the wax on hot and in liquid form ; a small paint- 

 brush is convenient for this purpose, but this method is more 

 wasteful of material. The wax can be applied safely much warmer 

 than can be borne by the hand, but should be well below the boiling 

 point of water. 



Other Coverings. ' 



Gum shellac dissolved in alcohol is too expensive, and it also 

 cracks. 



Paint is not good, as it contains oil, and that deadens the bark 

 on the rim and does not heal very well. 



Grafting clay is cheaper, and very serviceable. It is made of 

 one-third part cow dung and two-third parts of clay or clayey loam, 

 with a little chopped hair as used in plastering to prevent crack- 

 ing. Beat and temper this for two or three days, until it is thoroughly 

 incorporated. 



Waxed cloth or waxed paper are preferred by many to any of the 

 foregoing. This material is got ready before the operation. When 

 budding is practised it is to be recommended in preference to any 

 other material, as it answers the double purpose of holding the bud 

 or graft and thus doing away with tying and of excluding the air 

 or moisture. It also prevents the bud or graft from drying. 



