110 BUDDING AND GRAFTING 



unbalanced condition a large number of water sprouts will 

 be formed. The excess number of water sprouts can be 

 prevented if a few limbs are grafted each year. This practice 

 enables the plant to maintain a better equilibrium and there- 

 fore furnishes better growing conditions for the grafts. 



Grafting Waxes. — There are three distinct kinds of grafting 

 waxes: (1) Beeswax and resin waxes, (2) Pitch waxes, (3) 

 Alcoholic waxes. Within each kind of wax there are many 

 modifications, determined largely by the varying proportion 

 of the ingredients. The beeswax and resin wa,x is generally 

 used, because it is simple to make and is composed of mate- 

 rials that are easy to procure. 



BEESWAX AND RESIN WAXES. 



FOBMULA 1. 



Resin . . 4 pounds 



Beeswax . . 2 " 



Rendered beef tallow . 1 " 



Place the ingredients in a granite or an iron kettle and melt 

 them until they are thoroughly incorporated. Remove the 

 kettle from the fire and allow the mass to cool slightly, after 

 which pour it directly into a vessel containing cold water. 

 As soon as the mass is cool enough to handle, remove it from 

 the water and work it with the hands until it assumes a 

 light brownish, or a creamish color. The wax should now 

 be made into balls of any convenient size and each ball 

 wrapped in oiled paper until it is used. 



The hands are first greased with tallow when working the 

 grafting wax. The tallow prevents the sticking of the wax 

 to the hands. 



Where a very hard wax is wanted, and especially in the 

 warmer sections of the country, a larger quantity of resin 

 should be added to the mixture. 



PITCH WAXES. 

 Formula 2. 



Resin . 2 pounds 



Burgundy pitch . 1 



Rendered beef tallow J " 



Red ochre ... 1 " 



