proper use of the knife, or the least knick,
will spoil the edge and sometimes it will be quite difficult to get it
back. Therefore the blade should always be protected by a sheath, never
laid down or used for cutting raffia, or anything but the actual cutting
of the graft. For this purpose a leather sheath worn on the front of the
belt, as first used by Dr. Morris, is almost a necessity. This sheath
may be made by any leather worker and should have at least two pockets,
one for the grafting knife and one for another knife to be used for
trimming, cutting raffia and other odd things. It is convenient to have
a little pocket for a pencil also and one may provide places for other
articles of equipment at fancy.

I do not know that there is much to be said here about raffia. But a
great deal has been said, and will be said, elsewhere, when the raffia
is rotten and breaks in the middle of tying a graft. It is the devil's
own stuff to carry when you don't carry it right. The right way to carry
it is to tuck one end of the bundle under one side of your belt, pass
the bundle behind your back and the other end under the other side of
your belt. Then the raffia never gets mixed up with scions, tools and
profanity and the end of a strand is as handy as the knives in your
belt. On the whole I do not know of any binding material as satisfactory
as raffia. It is stronger and easier to use when it is damp.

One of the great advances in the art of grafting is the use of melted
wax. I believe that we have to credit Mr. Jones for this. The use of
paraffine for grafting wax we owe to Dr. Morris. To him also we owe the
Merribrook melter which has added so much to the comfort and convenience
of grafting that it can be recommended as an outdoor sport for ladies. I
do not like the brush that Dr. Morris recommends but prefer a stiffer
one such as can be bought for ten cents.

Equipments vary with the individual and with the difference in the work
to be done. Mr. Slaughter carries into the nursery, when he is working
for Mr. Jones in the semi-tropical sun of Lancaster, a stool with
parasol attachment. Mr. Biederman of Arizona has the most elaborate
equipment which includes a table, planes, curved knives and gouges. Dr.
Morris carries a knapsack. I like an ordinary light market basket that
Mother Earth holds up for me when I'm not moving from place to place.
When in a tree I stuff my pockets with scions.

A saw is usually a necessity. For po