THE NURSERY. 25 



"We have seen that the only peculiarity in the 

 structure of a root in the course of its length is 

 at the very tip, with its wonderful provision for 

 growth through hard soil. No one can pretend 

 for a moment that this is preserved in the 

 so-called whole root trees. If this is destroyed 

 there does not appear to be any special difference 

 whether i inch or i foot is removed, so far as 

 manner of growth is concerned. 



"Here are a series of specimens of piece root 

 grafts of six kinds of apples furnished me by Mr. 

 Augustine. I asked for one year trees without 

 telling him what was to be illustrated by them. 

 All are well grown, but some are larger than 

 others. Can any fault be found with the amount 

 or direction of these roots ? 



4 ( But fairness demands the mention that in the 

 excellent samples shown by whole root advo- 

 cates there is more evidence of the unhealthy 

 swelling on the piece roots. 



' ' It would seem that a tree upon its own roots 

 is ordinarily better than any combination can be, 

 except when special result outside of the best 

 good to the tree itself is desired. In other words 

 when we propagate for fruit and not for apple 

 trees." 



We have quoted thus largely from Prof. Burrill 

 to give the best scientific and impartial views, 

 and will only add that the specimens of piece 

 root grafts shown were not selected, while those on 

 the other side were with this special point in view. 



