204 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



much better trees will grow from the best seeds. To procure results of much 

 value will require years of time, — not less than twenty or tliirty, and perhaps 

 not even then. 



I am going to get by layers a lot of trees from some tlirif ty bearing tree to 

 compare with each other to see if the yield, growth, etc., vary from each other 

 as much as those which arc root grafted. 



How much the productiveness of trees is inflaenced by the stock is not settled, 

 yet there seems to be a difference in this particular. 



Our seedlings, or stocks of apples for grafting, are nearly all obtained from 

 apple pomace, which is mostly made of inferior or debilitated apples or those of 

 natural fruit. 



In case of pears, the seeds are imported from a milder climate. The stock 

 may be more tender and cause the graft to be also more easily injured by a trying 

 climate. We know seeds of radishes, grasses, clovers, and many flowers often 

 are not so hardy nor so good the first year after importing as they are from seeds 

 grown in our own climate. Why should not a similar rule apply to the pear 

 seedlings? Wc should like to know. I am not certain that we pursue the best 

 modes to increase our stock of aj^ple or pear trees. We generally form rather 

 an unfavorable opinion of a tree which was a sucker of another tree, and yet 

 the giant pear trees which grow along the Detroit river Avere once little suckers. 

 So far as I can learn, they are models of health and vigor, and fruitfulness. 

 Perhaps there is a key to the solution of the question of pear blight lurking 

 somewhere around the proper mode of propagating the trees. 



I have tried to find out whether the Baldwin apple would not be more hardy 

 in cold climates if top-grafted onto a hardy tree. I believe it is so affected, at 

 least in some cases. 



To decide whether the stock influenced the flavor of fruit, I should graft 

 together a very sour variety and a sweet variety. 



Mildew is a fungus caused by certain conditions favoring its development. 

 We have lately heard that our large foreign gooseberries will not mildew when 

 grafted on the Missouri currant. No one would guess that this Avould be the 

 resnlt without trying it. Perhaps further testing will show that the above is 

 not well established. T. T. Lyon, President of our State Pomological Society, 

 desires more information on the best modes of propagating fruits, — whether we 

 should graft or bud in the root, at the crown, farther up the trunk or in the 

 limbs, or whether we should top graft trees which have been root grafted. He 

 also suggests experiments to decide wdiether the cherry. Belle de Clioisey, would 

 not be more productive on some otlier stock, as on morello stock. 



In the case of pelargoniums a variegated scion has been known to induce 

 variegation in the stock. A potato scion set into a tomato plant induced the 

 latter to set small tubers in the axiles of its leaves, as we see sometimes on the 

 tops of potatoes. The grafting of an artichoke plant into a sunflower caused 

 the latter to set tubers under ground. 



Grafting a scion of a rather weak sort, as the lona grape, into a strong grow- 

 ing stock causes it to grow more vigorously. At least this is sometnnes the 

 case. All these would be interesting to try or repeat. 



Testing Varieties. 



This is a kind of experimenting quite easily tried, though somewhat slow 

 and expensive, and the results very unsatisfactory. For this purpose a test 

 orchard and test garden is needed to test new and promising varieties of ajiples. 



