110 



GRAFTING. 



is plain, however, that a stock which most 

 nearly approaches the kind intended to be 

 worked, in constitutional vigor and other 

 characteristics, offers the best promise of 

 ultimate success. 



The only question, then, is what is the 

 most proper mode of propagation? — and 

 this I believe to vary with the subjects of 

 the operation. In propagating the cherry, 

 for instance, the customary way with good 

 nurserymen, is to procure pits from thrifty 

 Mazzard trees. These produce seedlings 

 so uniform in their growth, and so well 

 adapted to the best cultivated sorts, that 

 very little difference will appear in trees or 

 fruit, when budded as they commonly are, 

 a few inches above the ground ; but even 

 these, I have raised equally fine by graft- 

 ing in the root. Apples, however, are com- 

 monly raised from seed obtained at the 

 cider presses. The fruit used there is gene- 

 rally small and crabbed. The stocks pro- 

 duced, consequently partake of the same 

 nature ; and when worked with some of 

 the best free growing sorts, the stock and 

 scion are evidently somewhat dissimilar in 

 character, and not as likely to produce 

 good trees and fine fruit, as if they were 

 both alike in habit of growth and structure. 

 In root-grafting, this difficulty is obviated ; 

 and therefore it must be the best method 

 of propagation, if it has no other serious 

 objections ; and I know of none, where the 

 operation is well performed. 



My experience is, that seedling stocks 

 of two, or at most three years' growth in 

 the seed bed, should be used ; they will be 

 then from one-fourth to one-half an inch in 

 diameter, and have from eight to twelve 

 inches of good straight firm roots. This 

 latter only should be used. It will make 

 two good cuts, say four inches long. These 

 pieces of root whip-grafted, (and the joint 

 covered with wax or waxed cloth,) with 



scions of the same length, making eight 

 inches, will penetrate the full depth of any 

 ordinary soil, when only half an inch of 

 the scion is left above the surface. Let 

 these be put out upon good ground, not 

 previously cropped with trees, at the pro- 

 per time in the spring; and in three or 

 four years, with good cultivation, they will 

 have become fit for setting in orchards, 

 and, upon examination, will be found al- 

 most without exception to have thrown out 

 roots from the scion, — thus forming a tree 

 upon its own roots ; in other words, as per- 

 fect a tree as the original parent. 



If we examine old trees, we find that the 

 strongest roots are those which spring from 

 the trunk, near the surface of the earth ; 

 these having a more horizontal direction, 

 and continuing to find nourishment as they 

 progress in the surface earth. Of course, 

 then, the little that remains of a different, 

 and perhaps dissimilar stock, in a root- 

 grafted tree, exerts but a comparatively 

 small influence upon its growth or fruit. 



These views are corroborated by the tes- 

 timony which orchards themselves bear, 

 on every side of me. Are the apple trees 

 less luxuriant and fruitful ? Or is the 

 fruit less beautiful, and highly flavored ? 

 Or do the trees give stronger evidence of 

 premature decay in western New- York than 

 in other sections of our country ? I think 

 not. The fruit speaks for itself in the 

 market ; and he who doubts the health of 

 our orchards, may come and see for him- 

 self. Yet nearly all our fine trees have 

 been root-grafted, and the practice still 

 continues with the decided approval of al- 

 most all cultivators of fruit. 



I have conversed with farmers who had 

 portions of their orchard set with root-graft- 

 ed, and other parts with natural fruit, or 

 seedling trees, and have examined the 

 trees, and found the difference in favor of 



