PROPAGATION. 97 



distance above the ground, is still practiced, and has many 

 warm advocates, as a better means of making the best trees. 

 The only objections are the greater expense of culture of 

 the stocks, and greater labor in grafting ; the limited pe- 

 riod at which the work can be performed, and the exposure 

 of the workman during its performance, which is often at 

 a stormy season, and always during a busy portion of the 

 year. The trees too, in the orchard, are often somewhat 

 deformed by an irregularity of growth, and have an en- 

 largement either above or belowthe union, which is un- 

 sightly. 



The kind of grafting will depend upon the size of the 

 stocks ; splice and whip-grafting on the smaller, and cleft- 

 grafting on the larger, ones, must be practiced. The wax- 

 ing may be done by any of the methods indicated, accord- 

 ing to the fancy ; but it must always be more thoroughly 

 done in aerial, than in underground grafting, whether 

 this be in the collar or upon sections of the root ; in the 

 former the whole of the cut surfaces must be covered, 

 to prevent desiccation by the winds, or the inroads of 

 insects, or of wet from rains. 



Wax. — Various combinations of the materials used in 

 the preparation of grafting-wax, have been recommended 

 by different operators. The desideratum being to have a 

 material that shall be suiSciently pliant, and at the same 

 time firm enough to withstand the elevated temper- 

 atures to which it may be exposed. A mean is preferred, 

 neither too hard nor too soft, and the proportions of the 

 ingredients are varied according as it is proposed to use 

 it out of doors, or in the house, in cold weather or 

 warm. 



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