CH. v.] THE SAP. 155 



grafted upon a stock oppositely characterized, for the 

 supply of sap Avill not be sufficient: illustrations 

 are afforded by the codlin never succeeding so well 

 on a crab, nor a bigoureux on a wild cherrv^ as they 

 do on freer growing stocks. Indeed, I have no 

 doubt that exerj tree and shrub succeeds best, is 

 most productive, and freest from disease, if it be 

 supplied A\ith sap from roots and through a stem of 

 its own particular kind. This is evident to common 

 sense, nor would any fruit-scion be grafted upon a 

 stock of another species or variety, if it were not 

 that such stocks are most easily obtainable. For 

 example, our choicest cherries are, for the reason 

 assigned, grafted or budded upon the wild cherry ; 

 and eveiy one must have noticed the frequently 

 occurring consequence, an enlargement, appearing 

 like a wen, encircling the tree just above where the 

 graft and the stock joined; — the growth of the 

 former ha\ing far outstripped that of the latter. If 

 a tree could be nourished from its ovm. roots, — from 

 organs assigned by its Creator as those best suited 

 to supply the most appropriate quantity and quality 

 of sap, there can be no doubt that it would be pro- 

 ductive of benefit ; and this desideratum seems to 

 be secured by the plan suggested by M. Aibret. In 

 the instances of apples and pears, and I see no 

 reason forbidding its adoption to any other grafted 

 tree, he recommends the grafts always to be inserted 



