HOW TO BUD AND GRAFT. 



33 



" Those rapped with strips all grew ; of the others about one 

 half grew ; also many of the former grew eight feet in one season, 

 the waxed ones, without the strips, not making over half that 

 growth. I claim that there are absolutely many chances in fa- 

 vor of the strips, over the other vvay." 



Even in the old method of regular grafting, n\ here the whole 

 top of the tree is cut off, these waxed strips are just as much to 

 be preferred over the wax daubs as is budding. Try it and see, 

 and our word for it you will never again set about this kind of 

 work without plenty of waxed strips at your side. 



There is a regular recipe for making the grafting wax most 

 commonly used ; it is this : " One part beeswax, one part tallow, 

 two parts rosin ; melt together till thoroughly incorporated." 



IN'ow, it may be presumptuous in us to meddle with this time- 

 honored recipe, but still we will venture to insinuate, with all 

 due respect, that in our own experience, the rosin may, with ad- 

 vantage, either be omitted entirely, or else be only half as much 

 added to the beeswax and tallow, instead of double as much. We 

 hnd that the strips dipped in the latter only, are fully as eftective, 

 and far more agreeable to handle ; neither do they, as some claim, 

 become rancid without the rosin. 



Lastly, a very sharp pointed, thiu-bladed knife is necessary, 

 and nov,' we are ready to select our scions, which, as we have else- 

 where stated, must be taken from, as well as inserted in, a grow- 

 ing plant. 



Considerable judgment must be exercised in this selection, as 

 a " stick " of buds may be either too old or too young. It is too 

 old if the shoot taken be of more than a year's growth ; too young 

 if it be not fully matured — the woody parts hardened and the em- 

 bryo bud developed beneath the axile of the leaf It is always 

 best to use the growth of the current season, just as soon as this 

 stage of maturity has been reached, and a short experience will 

 enable you to judge accurately, Avhen this point has been at- 

 tained. 



These remarks apply to all scions, whether orange, lemon, 

 peach, plum, apple, or any other of the great vegetable tribe. 



