BERR Ris Net te 
ye, ba ¥ nae Kea e r 
. . wh . 
ea MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Mr. Harris: The fact that the Wealthy and Duchess are 
more productive as grafted trees, does not conclusively prove 
the superiority of a grafted tree over the other. 
Mr. Dartt. It is well known by men who have had long ex- 
perience that the fact that an original tree does well and bears 
‘big crops, is not conclusive evidence that its progeny will be 
successful. 
Mr. Brand: I claimed in my article, which I read before this 
society last winter, that the original trees developed under 
favorable conditions did not conclusively prove their superior- 
ity over grafted trees. There was a long term of years 
during which the conditions were favorable, and those trees 
were able to reach an age at which they could take care of 
themselves. They attained a growth which enabled them to 
resist a great deal more than younger trees that were growing 
in the nurseries, and had not attained the proper age to resist 
extremes of heat and cold, and other adverse elements. 
Mr. Dartt: I would like to hear from Prof. Green on this 
subject. 
Prof. Green:. There can be no question but there is a ten- 
dency for exhausted vitality to reproduce itself. There is hardly 
a question about that, and for that reason, if the roots of a tree 
that is tardy in bearing be trimmed a little or injured in some 
way,it will run to fruit. Apple trees have often been girdled to 
make them fruitful. Ihave noticed that the Wealthy apple graft- 
ed on the Virginia crab stock is greatly improved in longevity. 
Tt makes the finest union that I know of. The Wealthy tree is 
especially weak in its trunk, and the Virginia crab is strong 
in this point. Thus the tree is made to livea longer life. Ido 
not know whether a tree is longer-lived on its own roots or 
when it is grafted, but I would prefer a tree on its own roots. 
Mr. Charles Downing has said that seedling trees have proved 
very deceptive as to their real value, when tried in the orchard. 
Mr. Harris: You can put a tender variety on a hardy stock 
and thus prolong it. 
Mr. Brand: The trees I refer to were all root-grafted trees, 
and they have done better than the original trees. 
Mr. Mitchell: I would like to make a suggestion, to offer a 
theory of my own, that the best and quickest way for the peo- 
ple of Minnesota and northern Iowa to get apples would be to” ~ 
have the farmers plant seed, and when the trees are one or two 
years old, transplant them into rows in an orchard. Then cul- 
tivate them for a few years, and they will do better on their 
