96 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



g'eneral buyer. The intelligent grower of nursery stock who would 

 succeed in this latitude inust give the closest attention to every de- 

 tail of his business, from the selection of his roots and scions, the 

 manner and method of union, to the growing, pruning and trans- 

 planting of his trees, etc. 



As the result of much thought, close observation and inany expe- 

 riments, I am convinced that the scions should be selected and 

 preserved with the utmost care, that the seedling roots should be 

 grown as nearly as possible from seeds of hardy apples and that 

 the use of a long scion and a short piece root will, in every instance, 

 produce better results than the old practice as usually observed. 

 By all means, use the long scion with a short piece root, and set the 

 grafts in the ground to the top bud and give them thorough culti- 

 tivation. The piece root will serve as a temporary support, whilst a 

 root system is being developed upon the scion. 



As stated above, using a long scion insures getting the root down 

 well into the ground where there is permanent moisture, hence, a 

 much larger proportion of your grafts will live, and at the end of 

 the usual three years in the nurser}^ this piece of the seedling root 

 is sometimes entirely absorbed or falls away of itself when the trees 

 are dug. In this manner apple trees upon their own roots can be 

 obtained. Even scions with three buds often etnit roots, but the 

 scions are not long enough to reach down into uniformly moist soil; 

 and, again, there are some varieties which do not strike roots on the 

 scion very freely, but the majority of the so-called iron-clads will do 

 so if encouraged b}"^ favorable conditions. 



In securing our supply of apple seeds, we should be careful to get 

 seed that is fresh, as that which is old or has been dried too much 

 does not germinate readily but comes very unevenly and produces 

 a weak and unhealthy seedling. We much prefer our native Amer- 

 ican or the Russian seed; while it is not as cheap nor as free from 

 foul stuff, we are satisfied we secure a much healthier root on which 

 to place our scions. 



In conclusion, I would advise all intelligent growers of apple 

 trees designed for the Northwest to give this method a thorough trial. 

 Even though it costs more to grow trees in this manner, 3'our suc- 

 cess will more than repay the extra expenditure; and, again, I would 

 advise all purchasers to buy trees on their own roots where it is 

 possible to obtain them, even at an advanced cost. 



The result of my experience and observation has convinced me 

 that I am on the right track. Try it for yourself and be convinced 

 also. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. A. J. Philips, (Wisconsin): You said nearly all of the 

 ironclad varieties would grow readily. Are there any varieties 

 that will not grow? 



Mr. Nordeen : There are some varieties found that will not 

 throw out a root the first three years. 



Mr. Phillips: What varieties throw out roots first? 



Mr. Nordeen: The Duchess do the best. 



