I am trying to graft green stems (this year's seedlings) of alder onto
green (this year's growth) of the side-branches of adult alder trees.

I have been using Hellermann sleeves (thank you to whoever suggested
them) Using the Hellerman sleeves I made grafts which looked really
satifactory. But they all died! What is wrong?

One cause might be poor workmanship and wrong graft design, but I
think I have brought the right surfaces together. When else might it
be?

I have thought of 2 possibilities :-

* The Hellermann sleeves are very sticky on the prongs of the tool so
I soaked them overnight in soapy water (the soap is ordinary washing
soap) to make them easier to handle. The sleeves were still full of
water when I put them over the stock. These pieces of scion are 2-3 cm
long, 2 -3 mm diamter, and green, and the edge of the cut surfaces
maybe exposed to the soapy water. But surely soapy water is harmless?
Or is it?

* I have putting "Arbrex seal and heal" generously on the stock at the
bottom end of the Hellermann sleeves, and on the cut ends of the
petiole and the scion upper end. Now I look more carefully at the
label of the "Arbrex seal and heal" I see it says "contains ethanol
and colophony, keep out of reach of children". Maybe it is the cause
of my problems? And if it is, what should I used instead?

Michael Bell



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