THE APPLE. 
'^28 
or Cuba bast form the best and most useful ties. Next to these cotton 
and woollen thread are best. All sorts of hard cord or twine are to be 
avoided. Some also employ short lengths of gutta percha or indiarubbey, 
and others narrow tape. Whatever is employed should be strong enough 
to hold the scion in its place, and to bind the edges of the wounds of 
the stock pretty closely together, and durable enough to keep them so 
until reunited by fresh growth. 
Various compositions or mastics are now fast superseding clay, for the 
exclusion of the air from the uniting parts of the scion and the stocks. 
These mastics or waxes are much more simple and cleanly to use than 
the old-fashioned clay, composed of equal parts strong loam and cow- 
dung, with a little chopped straw to make it work better. The indis¬ 
criminate and excessive use of this led to many failures. Now the 
different kinds of grafting waxes can be had of most nurserymen. A 
very simple one is that formed of equal parts of 
beeswax and resin, with a sixth or eighth part of 
lard, to give it softness. But, on the whole, many 
prefer clay, and if properly used, as in Fig. 10, it 
answers the purpose well. Of course, far less graft¬ 
ing wax than clay is needed to exclude water, wind, 
air, and light from the wounds incident to grafting 
until they are healed. Great care is needed in 
the application of these materials, so as not to 
displace either the scion or the bark. And in any 
cases where the wax or clay cracks off before the 
union is effected or the wounds are healed, it 
must be carefully replaced, as a fracture in the 
plastering matter around ^the grafts would often hinder or prevent a 
proper union. 
As we have seen, much of the success of grafting depends upon neat 
and expert manipulation, and the careful adjustment of the growing 
points to each other, and keeping them in contact without interference 
till the two grow into one. But much also depends on a wise selection of 
stocks and scions. Of course only good varieties will be chosen, and 
wood in the best condition. The latter may be said to be that of mode¬ 
rate strength, of horizontal rather than upright growth. Scions should 
also be a week or fortnight later than the stocks. If the scion is abreast 
or ahead of the stock in the matter of growth, most of its sap or growing 
force will be exhausted before the stock is sufficiently advanced to flood 
it with sap, or the scion has had time to do its proper part to form a 
union with the stock. The amount of vital force in the scion is neces¬ 
sarily limited. Whether large or small, it is, consequently, soon exhausted. 
