diff --git a/include/mapnik/graphics.hpp b/include/mapnik/graphics.hpp
index 6faae9927..64a246d4a 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/graphics.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/graphics.hpp
@@ -117,47 +117,6 @@ public:
         return data_.height();
     }
 
-    template <typename MergeMethod>
-        inline void merge_rectangle(image_data_rgba8 const& data, unsigned x0, unsigned y0, float opacity)
-    {
-        box2d<int> ext0(0,0,data_.width(),data_.height());
-        box2d<int> ext1(x0,y0,x0 + data.width(),y0 + data.height());
-
-        if (ext0.intersects(ext1))
-        {
-            box2d<int> box = ext0.intersect(ext1);
-            for (int y = box.miny(); y < box.maxy(); ++y)
-            {
-                unsigned int* row_to =  data_.getRow(y);
-                unsigned int const * row_from = data.getRow(y-y0);
-                for (int x = box.minx(); x < box.maxx(); ++x)
-                {
-                    unsigned rgba0 = row_to[x];
-                    unsigned rgba1 = row_from[x-x0];
-                    unsigned a1 = int( ((rgba1 >> 24) & 0xff) * opacity );
-                    if (a1 == 0) continue;
-                    unsigned r1 = rgba1 & 0xff;
-                    unsigned g1 = (rgba1 >> 8 ) & 0xff;
-                    unsigned b1 = (rgba1 >> 16) & 0xff;
-
-                    unsigned a0 = (rgba0 >> 24) & 0xff;
-                    unsigned r0 = rgba0 & 0xff ;
-                    unsigned g0 = (rgba0 >> 8 ) & 0xff;
-                    unsigned b0 = (rgba0 >> 16) & 0xff;
-
-                    unsigned a = (a1 * 255 + (255 - a1) * a0 + 127)/255;
-
-                    MergeMethod::mergeRGB(r0,g0,b0,r1,g1,b1);
-
-                    r0 = (r1*a1 + (((255 - a1) * a0 + 127)/255) * r0 + 127)/a;
-                    g0 = (g1*a1 + (((255 - a1) * a0 + 127)/255) * g0 + 127)/a;
-                    b0 = (b1*a1 + (((255 - a1) * a0 + 127)/255) * b0 + 127)/a;
-
-                    row_to[x] = (a << 24)| (b0 << 16) |  (g0 << 8) | (r0) ;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
 };
 }