29 S 



the impropriety of manufacturing entire trees, roots, stems, and branches, 

 out of tops. Nature will doiibtless do the best that can be done with 

 them, but how can they form as natural trees as seedlings ? The proper 

 place to use tops, is to make tops again, at least, with the nobler fruits, sa 

 liable as they have become to untoward influences, and where so much is 

 at stake, let nature govern, at least, in laying the foundation, nor can it 

 be too rugged and enduring. 



Trees differ also in being of different varieties as well as classes. It is 

 said, there are sections where nearly all varieties are root-grafted, and 

 with perfect success. In other sections, and widely too, throughout the 

 iN'orth and West, some varieties are generally recognized as too tender for 

 root-grafting, and in extreme cases for any situation. For one, I do not 

 know where these tender varieties do succeed so perfectly. In the very 

 best apple districts of Western New York, we have seen (rarely we ad- 

 mit, for we have never made any investigations with reference to this 

 point) but we have seen the same effects from root-grafting that are com- 

 plained of elsewhere — in the nursery bursting, and in the orchard dying 

 out, at the collar, while seedlings flourish almost everywhere, and every 

 improved variety, without exception, so far as we know, is rendered 

 hardier, and, if any thing, more productive, Avhen worked standard height 

 on hardy seedling stocks. Is it not, then, the obvious dictate of sound 

 policy to adhere inflexibly to the very best mode of propagation ? Are 

 we wise to take up with any thing less ? To strengthen a feeble grower or 

 renew stunted varieties we have ever been wont to work them on the best 

 seedlinof stocks — thus acknowledofino: bv common consent, from time im- 

 memorial, that with respect to vigor and hardihood, the bottoms govern. 

 Bottoms change tops greatly and often for the better — while tops affect 

 good bottoms, if at all, generally for the worse, except in the way of fruit, 

 I certainly would not deceive myself nor raise any false alarm — but let us 

 suppose, if not unreasonable, that throughout our country, when once well 

 covered with these tender root-grafted trees, some right western winter 

 should prevail. It may be we shall have nothing more trying than those 

 of 1851 and '62. — I certainly hope we may not. But again — root-grafts 

 cannot be better than top-grafts ; still, they are unquestionably different, 

 and what will that difference result in ? It may not be possible, yet we 

 have thought whether they might not eventually turn out like suckers, 

 essentially inferior. At all events, on which side, we ask, is the risk ? 

 However, we do not by any means wish to ascribe perfection to seed- 



