NEW VARIETY OF WINTER APPLES. 33 



not far distant, which bore hate-keeping apples, was grafted 

 with Baklwin, and their product kept weU. 



j\Ir. D. grafted, as he says, with scions from a tree that 

 produced a large sweet apple, particularly suited for baking- 

 piu'pose's for family use. The stock produced a small, crabbed 

 sour apple. The product is a medium-sized pleasant sour 

 apple. We visited the tree twice when the apples were in 

 process of ripening, for the express purpose of examining the 

 fruit. When the fruit was fully ripe, it was very pleasant, 

 but could hardly be called sweet. A juicy, good eating apple. 



We asked of ]\Ir. G., a man of large experience from a 

 neighboring town, " What is your experience in regard to 

 apples ? Does the fruit of the scion partake of the natural 

 stock ? " — "I never thought much about it," was the reply. 

 "Is your fruit of the same variety all alike?" — "No," was 

 the reply. " Cannot you think of some case to the point? " — 

 " Yes : we have a Russet tree that bears unusually large 

 apples ; but they do not keep well, and we sell them early." — 

 "What was the stock?" — "It produced a large apple that 

 rotted badly." — "What are its surroundings?" we then 

 asked. " A Russet near by that bears that variety like other 

 trees." — " What was the natural stock? " — " I don't know." 

 — " Is the land alike ? " — " No difference in the land : there 

 is but one tree between them." 



We have much more evidence of like character, which 

 might be presented, but think it unnecessary. All the afore- 

 said evidence is the result of ordinary grafting, as we have 

 known of no instance where cross-grafting has been per- 

 formed for the purpose of producing a new variety of fruit. 



We do not suppose that by cross-grafting in all cases the 

 varieties will mix, as one can mix molasses and water, or the 

 manufacturer can mix cotton and wool, and always produce 

 a fabric of the same quality. We do, however, believe that 

 the aforesaid statements are true, as we have endeavored to 

 get an unbiassed opinion in all cases ; and we think it gives 

 sufficient encouragement to experiment. 



Some years ago one of our neighbors visited some of the 

 nurseries in New York. It was in the cold season of the 

 year, when they were engaged in root-grafting. The work 

 of grafting is said to be performed by boys and girls. They 

 dig the roots and cut the scions in the fall, and keep them 



