14 THE MULBERRY AND OTHER SILKWORM EOOD PLANTS. 



alba var. tatarica) . should show a diameter of at least three-eighths 

 of an inch to give a satisfactory union. The stocks should be lifted 

 in the fall and c ' heeled in " out of the reach of frost. The scions 

 should be cut while in a dormant state and buried in damp sand in a 

 protected place. 



In the latter part of February the work of root grafting may be 

 started. The preparatory work consists in securing a quantity of 

 strong cotton and of grafting wax made of beeswax two parts, resin 

 two parts, and mutton tallow one part. Put these ingredients in a 

 small tin bucket, place on a hot stove, and when melted drop in one 

 or more balls of the cotton, allowing them to remain in the melted 

 wax for five minutes ; remove with a pointed stick. T\ lien cool they 

 are ready for use, Procure a deep box. in which the stocks are 

 placed, keeping them covered with a dampened sack; another box 

 should be provided for the scions, similarly protected, and a third 

 one for the grafted roots. These precautions are necessary, as even 

 a little exposure to dry air is always detrimental. 



In beginning work with the stocks, sever the top from the root at 

 the collar ; this can be done best with a pair of pruning shears. The 

 small lateral roots may be removed or shortened. Take a scion at 

 least 5 inches long and attach by the tongue method. Select stocks 

 and scions of as nearly the same diameter as possible and make a 

 slanting cut at the bottom of the scion and a similar cut at the top of 

 the stock. In the case of the scion, make an upward incision at a 

 point about one-third of the length of the cut surface from the base; 

 this will form a tongue. Xext make a corresponding incision down- 

 ward near the top of the slanting cut on the stock. The idea is to 

 have the tongue of the scion take the place which the knife blade 

 occupies when making the incision in the stock. "When the two parts 

 are fitted so that the bark of stock and of scion comes neatly together 

 at one side, or at both if possible, bind firmly with the waxed cotton. 

 This material should be used in preference to raffia, because when 

 the grafted stock is buried in the ground raffia will be certain to rot 

 before the union takes place, while cotton will remain in good con- 

 dition for a long time. 



After the fitting and tying have been done, the grafted stocks 

 should be tied in bundles of 25, the first tie to be made rather firmly 

 near the upper part of the scions; secure them again near the base 

 of the scions, but not as firmly as before. Care must be taken so as 

 not to displace the fitted parts. The bundles should now be buried 

 in sand in a frame or other protected place until planting time 

 arrives. The grafted stocks should be planted out just as soon as 

 the condition of the soil will permit. Plant them so deep that only 

 the top bud is exposed to the light. 



119 



