WOOD FOR SCIONS. 



463 



WOOD FOR SCIONS. 



J. C. FERRIS^ HAMPTON, lA. 



(A discussion.) 



Mr. President : I rise to a point of states' rights. Mr. Hawkins 

 has carried the Hne into Iowa to get trees to prove that scions 

 from young trees do not bear as soon as those cut from bearing 

 trees. I will make this proposition and challenge any successful 

 contradiction based upon experience. A perfectly dormant bud 

 upon a well ripened scion will develop bearing wood if cut from a 

 young tree just as soon as a similar bud from a bearing tree. It is 

 not the scion that determines the early or tardy bearing of the tree ; 



Jno. C. Ferris, Hampton, la., Secretary Noith western Horticultural Society. 



if top-grafted it is the age of the stock tha? determines the result. 

 A tree does not bear much wood and much fruit the same year 

 as a rule. As the tree approaches maturity it begins to produce 

 seeds to perpetuate its kind. An injured tree, even though young, 

 bears seeds that it may provide for the perpetuation of its kind 

 before dying. It is plain to me that the condition of each individual 

 tree in its structure, its root system, etc., as to age and development, 

 determine the year when it will begin to bear. I cut most of my 

 scions from bearing trees, but I make no virtue of it. If I was 

 grafting for my own orchards I would as soon use buds or scions 

 from young trees as from bearing trees. It is not well for your 



