752 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In summing up the experiments the authors say that the difference 

 of growth in favor of the longer scions and stocks is probably not suf- 

 ficient to compensate for the extra labor and expense made necessary 

 by their use. 



Besides the measurements made in the experiments the roots were 

 studied and many photographs made. A number of the photographs 

 are shown in the bulletin and the root characters discussed. From an 

 examination of the roots the authors conclude: 



"First, that the main root growth from all lengths of stock is made, in the first yenr, 

 at or just below the union of the stock and scion; second, that the growth at this 

 point becomes more pronounced in the second and third year's growth of the tree; 

 third, that growth from the lower portion of the stock is very slight during the first 

 year and becomes of less importance during the second and third; fourth, that this 

 lower growth is greatest on the shorter piece roots and least on the whole root; and 

 lifth, that where the graft is buried deeply a new system of side roots will take the 

 lead at about the usual depth below the surface of the soil, to the more or less 

 complete dwarfing <>f the lower and earlier root systems." 



The authors believe that the main roots of apple trees are formed 

 naturally near the surface of the soil, and that the use of long tap- 

 rooted stocks therefore is of no advantage except to induce a slightly 

 greater growth the first year or two. 



An experiment by F. Wellhouse, president of the Kansas Horticul- 

 tural Society, showing the effect of different stocks on the growth and 

 longevity of apple trees is given. In 1876 600 grafts each of Winesap, 

 Ben Davis, and Missouri Pippin apples were made on whole root stocks; 

 600 grafts of each variety were made on 4 in. roots grafted 2 in. above 

 the crown, and 600 on similar roots grafted 4 in. above the crown; 

 and an equal number of grafts of each variety were made on 4 iD., 

 3 in., 2 in., and 1 in. roots, all cut below the crown. In all cases 6 in. 

 scions were used. The grafts were set in the nursery, those grafted 

 above the crown being set so that the union was above the ground. 

 After 2 years' growth all were taken up and sorted into 2 grades. 

 From the 1,800 grafts made by each method the following percentages 

 of first grade trees were obtained: Whole root stocks, 85.2: 4 in. piece 

 roots, 85.5; 3 in. piece roots, 84.5; 2 in. piece roots, 85.6; 1 in. piece 

 roots, 56.S; 4 in. roots with grafts 4 in. above the crown, 68.6; and 4 in. 

 roots with grafts 2 in. above the crown, 73.6. The roots of the trees 

 grafted above the crown were more irregular than the others. None of 

 the whole root and 4 in. piece root grafts and but few of the 3 in. piece 

 root grafts rooted above the union. Nearly all of the 2 in. and all of 

 the 1 in. piece root grafts rooted above the union. The 2 in. piece root 

 lot was the most satisfactory of all. With all kinds of grafts the origi- 

 nal roots of the stocks made little or no growth after being set in the 

 nursery, new roots having been formed in all cases. 



About 400 trees of each of the 3 varieties grown from whole root 

 stocks were set in au orchard together with trees from 2 in. piece root 

 stocks. During 19 years no difference in growth, vigor, or fruitfnlness 



