MICHIGAN STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 155 



FREE PROPAGATION. 



DOBS THE STOCK UPON WHICH A GRAFT TS SET, INFLUENCE THE 



GRAFT? 



BY BENJAMIN HATHAWAY, 

 Of Little Prairie Ronde. Read before the Pomological Society, January 2, 18T1. 



Of the ruth of the general propositiou that the stock influ- 

 ences the graft, there can be no question to a mind trained to 

 close observatian ujoon this subject. 



To what extent in any given case this influence is exerted, 

 and how far it may be made practically available in horticult- 

 ural operations, may not be so easily determined. 



That the vigor of the graft is greatly dependent upon the 

 vigor of the stock, can hardly be a matter of controversy. 

 That a vigorous, strong growiug variety, like the Northern 

 Spy apple, will infuse something of its own vital force into 

 a weaker growing sort, like the Red Canada, is not a matter of 

 conjecture, but has been abundantly demonstrated. 



This class of facts has been recognized and acted upon by 

 all intelligent cultivators from time immemorial. The prac- 

 tice of dwarfing trees, as by putting the pear on the quince or 

 thorn, or the apple on a less vigorous stock, as the Docain, are 

 examples. In these cases stocks of less vigor than the graft 

 are used for the purpose of retarding growth, as it has been 

 observed that this condition induces fruitfulness, though no 

 doubt at the expense of health and longevity. 



Whether the size, color, and flavor of fruit may be aS'ected 

 by the character of the stock upon which it is grown, further 



