MICHIGAN STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 195 



varieties of fruit may be grafted on a single tree. Each variety 

 receives its crude sap from the same source, and all through 

 the same trunk or stock, and then each variety, through the 

 oflBce of its leaves, buds and bark, manufactures proper food 

 for the growth and perfection of its own particular fruit and 

 wood, and also buds for the continuance of these identical 

 varieties. 



Thus we may grow summer and winter fruits, sweet and 

 sour, all sorts of colors, etc., quinces, pears, and apples, or 

 peaches, plums, and apricots upon the same tree. 



The entire lateral growth of a tree is from its leaves or 

 top downwards, and not upwards; even the smallest rooted 

 receives its food from the leaves. 



Every tree and shrub is the protector and propagator of its 

 own self, as it were, forming each and every bud for its future 

 growth, after the identical type the Almighty first imposed 

 upon it. 



It might be inferred from the peculiar manner of the 

 growth of a tree, that the stock might in some way become 

 changed in character to correspond with the growing top, but 

 the only effect produced is to control its vigor and the size of 

 its growth. This is easily explained, from the fact that the 

 trunk and roots of the stock received all their food for growth 

 from the growing top, and if the supply of food be deficient, 

 the growth of the roots and stock will be correspondingly 

 diminished. We are in possession of ample proof that the 

 stock, under all circumstances, maintains its exact identity. 



Although the pabulum for the growth of the entire tree, 

 root, trunk, and top, is prepared by the leaves, and is distribu- 

 ted from the top downwards; yet the moment this wood-form- 

 ing substance reaches the point of union between the stock 

 and graft in its progress to the stock and roots, its descent is 

 there impeded or checked to a greater or less extent, depend- 

 ing upon the similarity or affinity of the stock and graft. 

 This prepared plant food is now about to enter a new domin- 



