108 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that illustrations are hardly needed. There is some misapprehension, 

 however, as to the meaning of the term dwarf. 



A. S. Ftjlleb says (Horticulturist, Vol. XXIII, 1868, p. 74.): "The 

 common method of producing dwarf trees is one of the most familiar 

 instances of the influence of the stock on the graft. But there is, how- 

 ever, a too general inclination on the part of the public to misapply the 

 term dwarf, as many suppose that it is nearly if not quite synonymous 

 with debility or stunted growth. This idea is an erroneous conclusion, 

 for in many instances what are called dwarf trees are equal to and often 

 more vigorous than standards. For instance, we will select two seedling 

 stocks, one shall be the Mahaleb cherry and the other the Mazzard; both 

 shall be of the same size and of equal vigor. Upon these we will insert 

 buds of the May Duke cherry, or any other variety. Now, the chances are in 

 favor of the bud on the Mahaleb stock making the most rapid growth for 

 the first one or two years, and still the Mahaleb is considered to be one of 

 the best stocks on which to dwarf the cherry. Now, the Mahaleb stock 

 does not lessen the vigor of the tree, but merely imparts to the graft its 

 peculiar habit of growing and spreading, and we are obliged to allow and 

 assist the tree to grow in this form, or it will surely become feeble and 

 perish. The bud inserted upon the Mazzard stock will shoot up into a 

 tree assuming its natural form, but the influence of the stock will be to 

 make it grow pyramidal and quite tall, because that is the natural habit of 

 the Mazzard cherry." 



All pears are dwarfed when grown upon the quince, ' though they are 

 likely to be more vigorous the first year 2 than when on their own roots. 



A. S. Fuller says: " I have as a general thing secured a larger growth 

 of the pear for the first two or three years, and even longer with proper 

 care, on the quince than upon pear stock. The influence of these stocks 

 is shown by imparting their peculiar form of growth to the graft, early 

 fruiting, etc., more than in checking their vigor." 



The dwarfing of plants by any means generally brings them into bearing 

 at an earlier age and causes them to bear relatively more fruit and flowers. 

 Thus, roses are said to produce larger and more numerous flowers on cer- 

 tain stocks than on others. 3 The crimson-fruited P yracantha Japonica 

 is far more fruitful and ornamental on the quince or hawthorn than on its 

 own roots. 4 Burbidge states that the Chinese Kumquat orange, Citrus 

 Japonica, absolutely refuses to bear well on its own roots, even in its 

 native hills, but that it produces heavy crops of its delicious egg-shape 

 fruits when worked on the hardy Limonia trifoliata. Mr. Robert For- 

 tune, the eminent Chinese traveler, informs him that this stock is uni- 

 versally adopted for this fruit by the native gardeners in China and 

 Japan. 



In the Gardeners' Chronicle 6 is recorded the following experiment of Mr. 

 Barron of Chiswick: The Blenheim Orange apple was grafted on French 

 Paradise, Doucin, Crab, and English Paradise stocks. " At the present 

 time the results of the experiment are very clearly apparent, the young 

 trees on the French Paradise and Doucin stocks being full of bloom, 

 while there is none on those worked on tbe Crab, and but vary little 



i McJntosh, Book of th » Garden, Vol. II, p. 327. 



2 J. G. Jack, Garden and Forest, l»9l). p. 54. 



3 Trans. Mass. Hort. Soc, 1*79, p. 23; The Garden, Vol. XXV; 1884. p. 62. 



* Burbidge, Propagation of Plants, p. 60. 

 5 Pr »pagation of Plants, p. 60. 



• 1879, p 29G.; 



