340 LIGAT0EES. 



into branches. In order to assist in this part of the operation, 

 a "heel" is sometimes in difficult cases left on a scion, and 

 inserted into a vessel of water, until the union has taken 

 place ; or, for the same purpose, the scion is hound round with 

 loose string or linen with one end steeped in water, so as to 

 secure a supply of water to the scion by the capillary attraction 

 of such a bandage. Indeed, the ordinary practice of surround- 

 ing the scion and stock at the point of contact with a mass of 

 grafting clay is intended for the same purpose ; that is to say, 

 to prevent evaporation from the surface of the scion, and to 

 afford a small supply of moisture; and hence, among other 

 things, the superiority of clay over the plasters, mastics, and 

 cements occasionally employed, which simply arrest perspira- 

 tion, and can never assist in communicating aqueous food to 

 the scion. 



For the infonnatiwi of those who nevertheless prefer wax to clay, it 

 may be useful to add the two foMowlng receipts for making grafting 

 wax. 1, Bees' wax and taUow, equal parts, laid on warm with a 

 painter's brush. 2, Four proportions, by weight, of pitch, four of 

 resin, two of bees' was, one of hogs' lard, and one of turpentine, melted 

 and well mixed. When this, or some similar oompoBition, is spread on 

 brown paper, it forms grafting paper, as it is sometimes termed, which, 

 being cut into slips, can be easily applied. 



Another substitute for grafting clay is sheet India-rubber, out into 

 narrow strips or bandages, from one-half to three-quarters of an inch 

 broad. The India-rubber is said to present all the requisites sought for 

 in clay ; it is air-tight and water-tight, and wiU not fall away ; also it 

 is elastic, which admits of the sweUing of the scion in its growth, and 

 it is applied with perfect ease and quickness. After wrapping the 

 bandage round the graft and stock, as a linen bandage is applied to a 

 cut finger, the last turn only requires securing by tying with a bit of 

 thread or thin bast. 



In some plants the scion is so slow in formiag an adhesion to 

 the stock that neither claying nor impermeable Hgatures are able 

 to keep it alive for a sufficient length of time. In that case the 

 graft is "put on " as close as possible to the ground level and is 

 then buried or banked up with earth till only one bud of the 

 scion is exposed. This is called " earthing up " and is of great 

 practical utility. 



