GfiAKCING WAX. 305 



GEAITING WAX. 



When the graft is made upon a stock at a point 

 below the level of the soil^ there will be no necessity of 

 covering the cut surfaces with any other material, as 

 the moist soil will answer the purpose. Whenever the graft 

 is made at a point where it will not be covered by the 

 soil, some preparation should be used to prevent the 

 evaporation of water from the cut surfaces. For this 

 purpose, nothing is better than grafting wax. There 

 are many formulas for this mastic, most of which con- 

 tain varying proportions of resin, beeswax and tallow, or 

 linseed oil. As a cold wax to be used with the hands, a 

 good proportion is, four parts resin, two parts beeswax 

 and one part of tallow or linseed oil. After melting, it 

 should he poured into water and left to cool until it can 

 be held in the hands, which should be well oiled. It 

 should then be pulled, the same as candy, until it takes 

 on a light yellow color, after which it can be made into 

 sticks of convenient size for use. This will be found of 

 the right consistency for use in a warm room, or in warm 

 weather outside. For use out of doors in cold weather, 

 the wax should have one part less of resin (three parts 

 resin, two of beeswax and one of tallow) and should be 

 well worked before it is taken out. 



As a thin mastic, to be applied with a brush, or the 

 fingers, some of the alcoholic waxes may be used. They 

 contain about 10 parts white resin, and one part beeswax 

 (or one part tallow) melted together ; after removing 

 from the fire and partially cooling, stir in enough alco- 

 hol to give the right consistency. Keep in a tight bot- 

 tle to prevent evaporation. 



BUDDING. 



Propagation by means of buds is only a modification 

 of that by grafting, and in fact it is often called bud- 

 grafting, or shield grafting. It consists in the insertion 

 26 



