WHOLE-BOOT VS. PIECE-ROOT GRAFTING. I 55 



inches long, when only one out of ten south of the fortieth paral- 

 lel would stand our test winters without protection. 



We can always judge the root system by the top of a tree. 

 All light, upright tops never have a good root system and in- 

 variably have a long tap root with but few surface feeding roots, 

 and to apply this to a fruit tree we know the same rule will prove 

 true. We would never look for an abundance of good fruit on a 

 light upright-topped tree. Why? Because it has a poor root 

 system ; its roots run deep and produce wood instead of fruit. 

 And, on the other hand, a tree that has a good open top always 

 has a good root system that branches out far from the tree, to 

 gather food for the tree to develop its crop of precious fruit. 

 This rule holds true with all nut bearing trees ; for if we wish to 

 plant any of our nut bearing trees for fruit we must transplant 

 them, and in doing this we usually cut the tap root to do the work 

 nicely. 



So I you see, we believe in the piece-root system and would 

 plant no other. We would use a short root about three inches 

 long, and a long scion about six inches long, and set it in the 

 ground down to the top bud and then cultivate thoroughly, and 

 the surface feeding roots will usually start from the scion. Then 

 you will have a tree on its own roots, so that if your scion is 

 hardy and your work is well done you will have a good tree, with 

 a good root system that will stand our hard winters, produce 

 plenty of luscious fruit, reward the planter and laugh at the 

 storm. 



SEEDLING CRABS IN NORTH DAKOTA. 



(A letter.) 



The following letter forwarded to us by Mr. T. A. Hoverstad, 

 superintendent of the Crookston Experiment Station, contains a 

 recital of the efforts of a resident of North Dakota in growing 

 seedling apples. His experience will undoubtedly be profitable 

 to others similarly situated in a locality where it has been found 

 impracticable to grow the standard apple. (Sec'y.) 

 Mr. Hoverstad, Crookston, Minn. 



Dear Sir : I received your letter asking about my success in 

 raising seedling apple trees or apples. I hardly know what you 

 would call success. 



When I came to this country I brought with me several hun- 

 dred seedling crab apple trees of the first year's growth. The 

 seed was taken from large, excellent seedling trees which I had 

 grown at home in Canada. 



1 was late putting them out and had not much ground ready, 

 so 1 put them out very close so as to preserve them until another 



