•Root and Top Grafting— Twenty-five Years' Observation. 



BY PROF. JAMES MATTHEWS, IOWA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



'PD. Western Horticulturist: Dear Sir — I believe there is at this time no 

 -L^ diversity of opinion among Pomologists in regard to the alleged fact, that many 

 varieties of fruits are greatly aflPected in size, flavor, appearance, fruitfulness, and even 

 hardiness, by being planted and grown in different soils, localities and climates. 

 That trees of many sorts and varieties may grow healthfully and vigorously, and be 

 perfectly hardy in California, which will kill out by the far more rigorous winters of 

 Iowa or Wisconsin, all fruit growers recognize as an established fact. Whether the 

 physiological reasons for these things are well settled and understood, I will not, nor 

 need T, now undertake to say. 



But it is my present intention to introduce another subject in regard to which, 

 while it is of the deepest concern to all fruit culturists, there is not a concurrence of 

 public opinion. This being so, I introduce the topic without apology, with my own 

 experience, observations and conclusions, together with the testimony of other fruit 

 growers of undoubted experience, for the purpose of eliciting the opinions of others 

 on the question involved. I hope every fruit grower, especially in the West, will 

 freely communicate all the facts and experiences he may have had, which are germane 

 to the subject. 



The proposition, or problem, is, are certain varieties of fruits more hardy and pro- 

 lific, and of superior size, beauty and flavor, when top-worked, that is, budded or 

 grafted (the stock being hardy) two to five feet above the ground ? 



As I am aware that this is a controverted point, I will submit a statement of a 

 few of the facts upon which I maintain the affirmative, for the consideration of those 

 whose opinions are adverse to mine, as well as for those who have formed no definite 

 conclusions in the matter of controversy. I shall give names and localities, so that 

 if any desire to institute further investigations, they will have a fair opportunity of 

 doing so. 



On the first of April, 1872, I spent most of the day in the orchard of Mr. Drury 

 Overton, one mile and a half from Knoxville, Iowa. This orchard contains from 

 fifteen hundred to two thousand trees, most of which were planted twenty-three and 

 twenty-four years ago, consequently passed the terrible winters of 1855 and '56, and 

 1856 and '7. Mr. Overton is an old nurseryman, having commenced the business in 

 Henry county, Iowa, about thirty years ago ; has been engaged in nursery and fruit 

 growing ever since ; is a modest and rather reticent man, but one of the closest and 

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