The Farm.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 26, 22 September 1894, Page 10

The Farm.

A NEW METHOD OF GRAFTING.

In other years more than once I have, when grafting apples and. pears, heen annoyed with the usual clay arrangement. Clay is, in the first place, very dirty, more or less awkward to fix, and when finished apt to be washed off by the rain or split open by the sun. This year it occurred to me to try an experiment —rto use a bit of india-rubber sheeting instead of the clay. The experiment has turned out a complete success, all the grafts on which it was used being now in a flourishing condition. Pieces of waste rubber sheeting can be readily procured at manufactories of waterproof or rubber goods, and even if one bad to pay a new price for the stuff it would cost but a trifle —— a couple of shillings would provide sufficient for a large number of trees. My plan is to wrap a strip of it round the point of juncture and tie it with a bit of ordinary tying material. It should be stretched a little in wrapping, but not more than enough to keep it situ. It is, in fact, just an indiarubber bandage. The graft should be tied in the usual way before applying the bandage. The advantages are speed, cleanliness, and certainty. —E. T, B. Wollaston, in the Field.