SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 209 



tion they have been perpetuated by grafting. A skillful gardener pro- 

 duces an abnormal flower of peculiar beauty ; by grafting he multiplies the 

 parent plant, guards carefully his prize, and, at his pleasure, sells at his 

 price. In a short time, still multiplied by the same process, it becomes a 

 common thing, none the less beautiful but no longer a rarity, and hence no 

 longer a source of profit. Very many of our plant beauties have come to 

 us in this way, all of each variety originating in a single plant that had by 

 some accident developed a strange quality. 



Certain plants have tender roots, readily yielding to the influence of cold ; 

 such plants are grafted upon stocks of known hardiness, on which they live 

 and thrive. The delicate plant is made hardy by grafting. To change the 

 variety of fruit on an established tree, and to render a barren tree fruitful, 

 are two of the most useful purposes to which the art can be applied. Many 

 old orchards that produced little fruit and none of good quality have been 

 so renewed by judicious grafting as to become sources of profit; and there 

 are many more that under a careful hand might be made to yield rich 

 returns. Just how far the renovation of old orchards by grafting can be 

 carried with profit will depend, however, on many circumstances. Some 

 trees may be too old and have too little vitality, some may be diseased, some 

 may be of such ill shape from long neglect as to be beyond the reach of any- 

 one's skill. There is but one course to pursue with such trees — take them 

 out, root and branch. They occupy good ground and mar the landscape to 

 no purpose. But there are vigorous and well-shaped trees that for some 

 reason are not fruitful or produce worthless fruit ; such may be renewed 

 with good results. 



The operation should be performed by degrees: a portion each year for 

 two or three years, that the tree may not receive too great a shock. Care is 

 required to preserve the symmetry of the tree; this cannot always be done, 

 but in skillful hands the shape in most cases need not be greatly altered. 

 After grafting an orchard, do not leave it to take care of itself; pruning 

 must be promptly attended to, and judicious cultivation and manuring will 

 go a great ways toward bringing about the desired result. 



If the principles and practices of grafting were more generally understood 

 among our farmers, we would certainly see better kept orchards. Every 

 farmer would find it both interesting and to his advantage to acquire 

 enough of the art to enable him to do the work of his own orchard. 



Of all horticultural operations grafting is one of the most pleasant and of 

 the greatest use. We hope that coming generations may witness a more 

 widespread knowledge of this most practical and useful art. 



