Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-03-22
Grating Wax.

We wish it could be said with truth
that every farmer and owner of gar
den knew how to graft all the different
kinds of fruit and ornamental trees, or
even the most common species in cult
walton. But we regret to say that on
ly very small proportion of those
who cultivate trees know anything
about the different methods employed
in their propagation; still, the number
of persons who do their own grating
and budding of fruit and ornamental
trees is increasing every year, and will
continue to do so until these processes
will no longer be considered the special
property of nurserymen or professional
gratters. Occasionally farmer, after
watching some itinerant CRATER work
ing in his orchard, will become satisfied
that he can perform the manual part
of the operation as we'll as the man he
is employing; but if he seeks informa.
ton regarding the composition of the
wax used in covering the wound made
in the tree operated upon, he is very
likely to be informed that it is a trade
secret, which will be divulged for a
certain sum, and this usually puts tan
end to all investigation in that direc,
ton. We do not suppose, however,
that those professional grafters who 60
about the country seeking employment
know anything about their business
that has not been published thousand
times; but those who do not read agri>
cultural and horticultural journals and
books are not aware of the fact, and
therefore inclined to think that there
may be some professional secrets not
usually disclosed to the public, and
that one of these is the composition Of
the various kinds of grating wax or
other unctious compounds.
The primitive composition used for
covering wounds and cuts made in
grating was clay and COW manure.
Any good kind of clay was taken, and
two parts of this was mixed with one
part of cow manure, all well beaten
together in order to make it as tough
as possible. Sometimes little finely
chopped grass was added to give il
toughness. This composition was in
common use more than two thousand
years ago, and is still used by garden
ers in grating certain kinds of plant'
that haYe a soft sponge-like bark thai
might be injured by compositions con
tanning oil or grease.
The composition of grating wax il
almost as variable as the ideas Of tn,
men who use it, and there are scores
of receipts for making it. One of thu
oldest, and we think one of the bes
for outdoor use, is composed of foul
parts Of common rosin, two parts O
beeswax and about one and half part
tallow; all are melted together over {
moderate fire and we'll stirred befor,
the mixture cools. If it is to be useC
in very cool weather add a little NOR,
tallow, or if in warm little less. Ii
Europe, Burgundy pitch is more gen
orally used in making grating wal
than in this country. Some of tn
French nurserymen recommend tn
following: Melt together two pound
twelve ounces of rosin and one poupt
and eleven ounces of Burgundy pitch
At the same time melt nine ounces o
tallow, pour the latter into the forme
while both are hot and stir the mix
ture thoroughly. Then add eighteel
ounces of red ochre, dropping it il
gradually and stirring the mixture a