GRAFTING MASTIC. 



565 



Grafting Mastic. — The tliorougli knowledge of grafting 

 possessed by the Frencli has long ago led them to invent 

 various kinds of grafting wax or masticj which greatly 

 facilitate grafting. These, while distinct imjorovements for 

 propag-ators and practical gardeners having mnch grafting 

 to dO;, render grafting on a small scale and in the gardens 

 of amateurs a pleasant and interesting operation. The mix- 

 ture of clay_, dung, &c., commonly employed for grafting in 

 this country is not such as many amateurs care to make, 

 and it is scarcely worth while doing it for the sake of a 

 graft or two. The best of the French compositions for 

 grafting is that called Mastic I' Homme Lefori — an awkward 

 name for an excellent article now sold in this country by 

 Messrs. Hooper & Co., the seedsmen, of Central Bow, 

 Covent Garden_, W.C. One of the most able fruit growers 

 and horticulturists in the country has recently given his 

 opinion on this article in the Gardener's Chronicle : — 



It is a substance of about tbe consistency of common wliite lead, somewliat 

 resembling balf-melted gutta-percha, and haTing a very pleasant and agreeable 

 perfume. It is quite easy of application, being readily spread over the parts 

 with the blade of a knife or a flat piece of wood, like butter on bread. Although 

 in the box, away from the air, it will keep pliable and moist for many years, it 

 very soon hardens on the outside after being exposed thinly on the graft, and, 

 as it were, hermetically seals up the point of junction, and thus prevents all 

 access of air to the cuts. It is at the same time quite elastic, and easily re- 

 moved when required. It was largely tried in various ways in the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Gardens, Chiswick, b}' Mr. Thompson, who reported favourably on 

 its merits. I have myself used it in grafting all sorts of hfirdy fruit trees, and 

 approve of it very m.uch indeed. In grafting tall standards it is better than 

 clay, which it is difficult to fix at all times. This, on the contrai-y, can be ap- 

 plied with the greatest ease in any position, and a very little of it suffices 

 spread thinly round about the junction of the scion with the stock. I wish 

 particularly to recommend its use in grafting Vines. For this purpose it is far 

 superior to clay, or any other article that I have used — and I have grafted some 

 hundreds. The objection to the use of clay or moss is that in general when the 

 Vines are growing a moist atmosphere is maintained in the house ; in fact, to 

 induce the scion to break strongly it is regularly syringed. The clay, &c., is 

 thus kept continually moist, and roots are emitted into it from the stock, and 

 frequently from the scion also. When this takes place, and I have seen it many 

 times, there is but little chance of the graft succeeding. With the Mastic, 

 on the contrary, no roots are possible, however much the moisture and heat 

 applied externally to the graft and stock, and, as a consequence, success in 

 Vine grafting becomes almost a certainty. I have also found the Mastic useful 

 in placing over wounds or bruises on plants generally, thereby enabling them 

 to heal quickly. For this purpose, for Vine grafting, and for all the more 

 delicate operations of grafting, I strongly recommend it : further, it is very 

 handy, always ready for use, and so easily applied. With a sharp knife, a bit 

 of matting, and a little sixpenny box of Mastic I'Homme Lefort (at which 

 price sufficient for 100 grafts can be purchased) any gentleman or even lady 

 can go grafting trees, at any moment, with the greatest facility, and finish the 



