CHAPTER XV 



GRAFTING WAXES, WOUND DRESSINGS, ETC. 



285. Grafting wax. — The great majority of the many 

 recipes for grafting wax vary only in the proportions of 

 the three ingredients, resin, beeswax and hard cake beef 

 tallow or linseed oil, sometimes used instead of tallow. 

 These variations are largely due to personal preference, 

 though in some cases the consistency of the finished wax 

 is thus purposely varied. For soft waxes the proportion 



FIG. 182— NURSERY TREE PESTS 

 1. Hairy root and crown gall. 2. Woolly aphis. 



I if tallow should be increased; for tough ones, that of 

 beeswax. Thus any formula may be varied to secure 

 wax for any kind or character of use indoors or out. 



As a rule, liquid waxes are less popular in America than 

 in Europe, where also pitch waxes and grafting clay (fresh 

 cow manure free from straw, three parts ; clay or clay loam, 

 seven parts and cow hair half a part) are more in use than 

 here. In the table which follows the first formula is 

 probably the most popular. The functions of grafting 

 wax are to protect the injured tissues from decay and 



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