86 STATE rOMOLOGlCAL SOCIETY. 



INFLUENCE OF STOCK UPON CION. 



Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Society : 



While your association lias within the few years of its organization done u 

 vast amount of good to the fruit-growers of this state, having touched almost 

 every matter relative to culture, improvement and production of the various 

 kinds of fruits adapted to the climate and soils of Michigan, I have heard but 

 very little said on the clfect or influence of the stock upon the cion, in 

 grafting tlie apple cither upon the root or top. 



I have read a few hints thrown out by different persons that the stock ex- 

 erted a great influence upon the productions arising from engrafting one kind 

 of fruit upon another, but to what extent no one has ventured to express any 

 very decided opinion, and for the purpose of gaining information upon that 

 point I shall state briefly some observations taken by myself upon the question 

 as to the effect the stock may have upon the fruit produced by cions engrafted 

 upon the root or the top of the apple tree. 



In the early part of my life, and while a resident of New York State, my 

 attention was directed to the question here presented by the very marked dif- 

 ference in the general appearance, keeping qualities and flavor of the same 

 kinds of apples grafted upon and gathered from different trees. 



It was an observable fact that in gathering the Rhode Island Greening, as 

 an instance, that with trees of equal vigor and health, the fruits were variable 

 in size, flavor and keeping qualities. The same held good with the Baldwin, 

 the king of apples, for beauty, keeping, and for profit, and with the Esopus 

 Spitzenburg, whose sprightly, aromatic flavor, has never been attained by any 

 other good keeping winter apple, combined with that glowing beauty to attract 

 the attention of the lover of the good and the beautiful and thus place it at 

 the head of the list for ready sale in the market. Although at that early date 

 the difference was not so apparent as now, for greater uniformity existed in 

 all of the kinds of apples named, tliere was then no difficulty, even on the 

 l^art of the school boy, in determining either of the kinds named readily at 

 sight, and also the names of others which have met with equal change in de- 

 sirable quantities since that time. While now it is no uncommon occurrence 

 to find tliG experienced fruit-grower in doubt as to tiie correctness of names 

 attached to j^lates of apples placed on exhibition at our fairs, although they 

 are veritable Greenings, Baldwins and Spitzenburgs. 



But for the purpose of placing before this Society for their consideration 

 the causes of the cliange apparent it is only necessary to mention the few 

 named varieties, and as it would not interest you, gentlemen, for me at this 

 time to enter upon a lengthy dissertation upon all of the questions tiiat might 

 have a bearing upon the final results of the case, I shall attempt somewiiat to 

 fathom the mystery of the change produced upon some, or all of the varieties 

 named. 



About the year 18-19, at the time of gathering apples, I noticed while gather- 

 ing that the several varieties named were quite different in general appearance, 

 upon different trees. Some of the Greenings were very large and }ierfect, 

 somewhat inclined to russet, others medium in size, but smooth skinned, and 

 others small with russet spots, yet all possessed the type of the Khode Island 

 Greening unmistakable in all. Tliey were all grown upon top-grafted trees 

 that had borne fruit for some years, prior to working over, that were not con- 

 sidered of sufficient value to retain them in tlieir primitive condition. The 

 large very nice ones were grown upon a healthy, strong growing, sweet apple 



