GRAFTING WAXES. I35 



wounds upon trees. In this country, the resin and beeswax 

 waxes are most used, although some of the alcohohc waxes 

 are popular in some regions. In Europe, many clay and 

 pitch waxes are in common use. For most purposes, the 

 wax No. I, in the following list, will be found to be one of 

 the best, especially for applying by the hand. The soft al- 

 coholic waxes are apt to melt off exposed stubs in our hot 

 summer suns ; but they are useful for indoor work and for 

 cool weather. In making the resin and beeswax waxes, 

 the materials are first broken up finely and melted together.' 

 When thoroughly melted, the liquid is poured into a pail 

 or tub of cold water. It soon becomes hard enough to 

 handle, and it is then pulled and worked over until it be- 

 comes tough or " gets a grain, "at which stage it becomes 

 the color of very light-colored manilla paper. When wax 

 is applied by hand, the hands must be well greased. Hard 

 cake tallow is the best material for this purpose. In top- 

 grafting large trees, it is well to carry a supply of tallow 

 when waxing, by smearing the backs of the hands before 

 entering the tree. 



Common Resin and Beeswax Waxes. 



1. Resin, 4 parts by weight ; beeswax, 2 parts ; tallow, 

 I part. 



2. Resin, 4 lbs. ; beeswax, i lb. ; tallow, i lb. 



3. Resin, 6 lbs.; beeswax, 2 lbs.; linseed oil, i pt. 



4. Resin, 6 lbs.; beeswax, i lb.; linseed oil, i pt. Ap- 

 ply hot with a brush, one-eighth of an inch thick over all 

 the joints. 



5. Resin, 4 lbs.; beeswax, i lb.; and from half to a pint 

 of raw linseed oil ; melt all together gradually, and turn 

 into water and pull. The linseed oil should be entirely 

 free from cotton-seed oil. A hard wax, for use in warm 

 weather. 



6. Resin, 6 parts; beeswax, i part; tallow, i part. To 

 be used warm, in the house. 



