PKOPAGATIOlf BY GEAFTINQ. 201 



saw, for cutting ofE the heads of large stocks or branches 

 of trees; a good, strong knife, with a thick back, to 

 make clefts in the stock ; a small knife with which to pre- 

 pare the cion ; a wedge, or grafting chisel, and a small 

 mallet. The aboTe-named implements are often made of 

 peculiar patterns, to suit the fancy of the operator, but 

 the main thing is, to have the work well done. Other 

 kinds of implements are used in performing particular 

 modes of grafting, which I shall have occasion to men- 

 tion as the different processes are described. In addition 

 to these, bass or raflBa strings, such as are used in budding, 

 for tying in the grafts, and grafting-wax, to cover the 

 wounds and protect them from the air and water, are 

 necessary. 



Geafting-Wax. — There are many kinds of grafting- 

 wax, as well as other compositions for the same purpose. 

 A composition, made of clay, fresh cow manure, and fine 

 straw or grass, was the principal material used in grafting 

 until the present century, and it is still used occasionally, 

 and with such good results that it should not be entirely 

 ignored or overlooked. It may be prepared as follows : 

 Take a quantity of good, strong clay, and a small quantity 

 of fresh cow manure ; add sufficient water to make it the 

 consistence of thick paste ; add a little fine-cut grass or 

 straw ; if a little salt — say about one pint to the bushel — 

 is added, it will assist it in retaining moisture, when ap- 

 plied to the stock and cion. This composition should be 

 made several weeks before it is wanted for use, and be 

 thorougly worked over as often as once a week until 

 used, for the more it is manipulated the better. This 

 composition is but little used at the present day, but for 

 some kinds of coarse grafting on large, open-grained 

 wood, it will retain moisture longer and protect the cion 

 bebter than the more modem grafting-wax. There are 

 many different kinds of grafting compositions recom- 

 mended by the authors of works on gardening, which 



