ROOT GRAFTING. 



201 



EVERAL correspondents have requested our opinion concerning 

 the respective merits of root-grafting and budding or stock-grafting, 

 in the propagation of apple trees. A considerable degree of inter- 

 est has recently been awakened on this subject, from the fact that 

 at the late meeting of the North- Western Pomological Associa- 

 tion, held at Dixon, 111., it was a prominent topic of discussion, and 

 elicited a variety of opinions and experience among the nurserymen 

 orchardists of the west, to which we shall presently allude. Be- 

 te-'-'H.^ ' "'• joru proceeding further, it may be well to explain precisely what we mean 

 by root-grafting. It is a very common practice among apple tree growers, and 

 especially when stocks are scarce, to cut the roots of seedlings into sections or 

 pieces two or three inches in length, and graft on these ; thus making three or 

 four trees of one root. But this is an abuse of root-grafting, and should not be 

 recommended or practiced under any circumstances, although we admit that good 

 trees are grown in this way, of some very free, vigorous growing varieties. What we 

 intend to speak of as root-grafting, is that in which the upper portion of a seedling 

 root only is used, and the graft or scion inserted on the collar, or point of union 

 between the root and stem of the plant. 



In the Western States, the fresh and wonderfully fertile soil produces a rank and 

 rapid growth of trees, and this continues unabated until a very late period of the 

 autumn. Winter sets in upon these soft and succulent trees with the most sudden 

 and violent changes of temperature — during the day a clear, bright sun, gives almost 

 a summer warmth, while at night the mercury descends to zero, and even, in 

 many cases, far below. This, it must be admitted, is a trying state of things. The 

 upper parts of the trees seem to escape any very fatal injury, partly perhaps because 

 they are gradually thawed by the gently rising heat of the morning, while at the 

 surface of the ground the greatest injuries are sustained, owing perhaps to the sun 

 striking that part from a greater altitude and from the heat reflected against it by the 

 warmed surface of the ground. At that point, the bark is blackened and ruptured. 

 Certain varieties are peculiarly liable to this, especially late growers. The Roxhury 

 Russet and American Golden Russet are quoted as examples ; but the Baldwin, 

 Greening, and many others, are occasionally so affected, in proportion, probably, as 

 the soil may be favorable, or otherwise, to the production of a late immature growth. 

 Now it is very evident that root-grafting is not a safe method of propagation for 

 such varieties as are liable to these injuries in winter, but that they must be budded or 

 grafted on stocks at such a distance from the ground as will place them beyond the 

 reach of this influence. There can be no diversity of opinion on this point. The 

 question of practical interest is, which are tender varieties and which are not ? and 

 this must be answered by experience. We apprehend that the soil has very much to ^ 

 do with this matter. It is quite possible that some of the varieties complained of as 



Mya 1 1853. 



No. V 



