THE MINNESOTA 



HORTICULTURIST. 



VOL. 32. JULY, 1904. No, 7. 



APPLE STOCKS IN THE NORTHERN NURSERY. 



ROY UNDERWOOD, LAKE CITY. 



The nurserymen present will appreciate that this would be a large 

 topic to handle in so short a time, at least so if all the pros and cons 

 that would arise at a nurserymen's convention were to be dragged 

 into the discussion. The propagation of apple trees is much like the 

 care and cultivation of an apple orchard in that different individuals 

 may work out the problem along different Hnes with the same ap- 

 proximate success, and, in the same manner, a grower may at times 

 fall into the erroneous conclusion that his is the only successful 

 method. So, in dealing with the subject, I shall endeavor to keep a 

 hold on such generalities as may seem to be of the most accepted 

 application. 



Here in the north it has come to be a pretty generally accepted 

 fact that in an apple tree a hardy root is quite as important as an 

 early ripening tendency of wood and a tough quality of bark. A 

 chain is only as strong as its weakest link, to follow the old adage, 

 and an orchard tree that may be perfectly hardy above ground but 

 that is grafted on a root of inferior hardiness, is a successful tree 

 only so long as its root withstands the extremes of our climate. 

 Such a tree will thrive until it meets with one of our test winters, 

 accompanied by bare ground and protracted zero weather ; then un- 

 less one is philosophical enough to enquire below the surface of 

 things he is apt to condemn the variety when in fact he ought to 

 "roast" the tree-man. Not that the latter often feels a lack of this 

 generous warmth, either, but as a rule — and I say it with candor — 

 it is frequently applied to him copiously when it is not merited, and 

 again as often the planter fails to make him responsible when he 

 really is. 



