114 'Moot and 2'op Graf ting— Twenty-ftre Tears' Obserration. 



most vigilant observers in fruit culture within my knowledge. In planting this 

 orchard it so happened that almost every variety set out was divided between root 

 and top grafts, hence affording a very favorable opportunity of testing the advantages 

 and disadvantages of the two modes of grafting. On the occasion stated, Mr. Over- 

 ton accompanied me, and my subseciuent remarks in quotations are substantially, 

 and as nearly as possible, in his own words, and taken down in pencil by me as we 

 passed and were observing each variety. 



White Winter Pearmain — "Does twice as well top-grafted as on root graft." 

 Says, " This kind wauls to be top-worked about five feet from the ground." Says 

 also, that "the fruit scabs badly, even grown in this way." 



Early Pennock — " Far better, and perfectly hardy when t(^-worked." I wilf 

 remark that this kind on my grounds, root-grafted, is only half hardy, and a poor 

 bearer. What specimens there are, however, are very fine. 



Hubbardson's Nomuch — " Splendid when top-worked, and perfectly hardy, but 

 tender and indifferent when root-grafted." 



Dyer — " A good bearer when top-worked; poor bearer when root-grafted. Hardy 

 both ways." 



Avicrican Golden Russet — " Killed in 1855, '6, even top-worked" (thermometer 32 

 below zero), " but has not been hurt since. Perfectly tender, root-grafted." 



Roxbury Russet — " Does very well top-worked, but will not succeed root-grafted." 



Fulton — " Only bears well when top-worked, but is hardy either way." 



Swaar — " First rate, and good bearer when top-worked, but only succeeds in 

 this way." 



Esopns Spitzenburgh — " First rate, perfectly hardy, and bears well when top- 

 worked, but will not succeed root-grafted." 



These trees (two of them) have been planted out twenty-four years ; stood the 

 ordeal of 1855, '6, and 1856, '7, and now there are no sounder trees in the neighbor- 

 hood. I tried this kind several years root-grafted, and after my best efforts entirely 

 failed in bringing a single specimen to bearing size, but have known one or two 

 instances where the fruit has been produced on root. grafted trees in clay soil. 



Porter — " Fine, but only when top-worked." 



American Summer Pearmain — " Perfectly hardy when top-worked, but does not 

 bear satisfactorily even then." 



Little Red Romanite (Gilpin) — " Hardy and a great bearer^when top-worked ; not 

 hardy root-grafted." 



Winesop — " Far better and more prolific when top-worked." 



Michael Henry Pippiyi — "Good only when top-worked." 



Fall Pippi7i — " Fine and hardy top-worked." This variety with me (root grafted) 

 is only half hardy. 



Jonathan — "Far better top-worked, standing side by side." 



Tidpehocken — "Fine and quite hardy top-worked." In my grounds, root-grafted, 

 this kind can only be considered half hardy, and is variable in quality. 



Wagener — "First rate, and donH blight when top-budded." In my grounds this 

 kind, root-grafted, is the worst top blighter I have. 



In the hard winters previously alluded to (1855, '6, and 1856, '7), Mr. Overton's 



