CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



79 



HOW AND WHEN TO REMOVE THE WRAPPING 



Do not remove the wrapping at all, but after the grafts have grown twelve 

 or more inches, cut through the cloth to the bark on one side opposite the twig, 

 leaving a slight amount uncut at the top and bottom of the cloth and then with 

 the hot wax cover the place cut to keep air and water out. This will allow the 

 graft and stock to expand and still keep it tightly bound, supporting the twig. This 

 is important. When the graft grows eight or ten inches, tie one branch to a stake, 

 and allow the others to go downward. This applies to top-working large trees, 

 especially. 



TWIG 



WAX TO HOLD 



CLOTH AND TWIG 



TO ST>XR~r WR/\P>IN1G 



FIG. 3. 



TWIG B. INS'D. 



STOCK 











FIG. 2 





1 INCISION 





^ , ■ 





/ 



T-wie srlice: 



GRAFT 



TWie. A. INS'D" 



z2. 



TWiO A. 



SCION 07-TWIG AvJNSERTED 



Courtesy Rural World, X,. A. 



THE WAX HOW TO PREPARE AND USE IT 



There are different ways of making good cambium connections without 

 splitting the wood and injuring it, but the most important thing is a wax that will 

 make a perfectly air-tight and water-proof seal. This simple wax is asphaltum and 

 crude oil. For about one gallon of broken asphaltum use about one-half pint of 

 rather heavy crude oil. If the grade is light use less. There is more danger of 

 getting too much crude oil than not enough. The small amount of crude oil 

 serves to keep the asphaltum more plastic, makes it adhere better and prevents 

 cracking in cold weather. I used this on the stubs of orange trees sixteen 

 years ago when I budded them over and where the stub is not healed over the 

 wax is still perfect. Melt together over a gas burner or other heat and boil until 

 all the foam disappears, and also until most of the vapor is gone. Keep it to 

 about the boiling point and apply with a small brush, kept hanging on the inside 

 of the vessel, into the wax. Where several grafts are to be made the wax must 

 be kept hot by keeping a gasoline or oil burner under the vessel. A suitable 

 carrier for this purpose can easily be made. 



