1 30 PROPAGATION. 



equally upon each other and in perfect harmony. 

 Possibly if we could which we cannot put a 

 mature Siberian top on Winesap roots, the tree would 

 not be hardier than the Winesap. Nature has not 

 made trees with low, spreading tops, and a shallow 

 system of roots for very high latitudes, especially 

 if, as in the northwest there is frequently too little 

 rainfall. Now as it seems to be clear that a good, 

 deep system of roots is essential to the maintaining 

 of a tree in these trying conditions in its best 

 health, and that nature is so perverse or persistent 

 that she will not make such a system of roots 

 under certain desirable varieties, we may take 

 advantage of a little strategy to compel her to 

 accept and wear the particular root system which 

 she had made for quite another tree. 



After the stocks upon which we are to make 

 this artificial tree have stood for three or 

 four years, they will have extended their roots 

 downward possibly twice as deep as the height 

 of the tree, and we have accomplished all 

 in this direction that any reasonable tree could 

 ask or expect to grow upon, or any "whole 

 rootist" or "unmutilated rootist'' could demand. 



Any one who should, with the above only to 

 guide, undertake this top working system, might 

 easily make a failure. Nature is very persistent and 

 apparently at times unreasonably obstinate. There is 

 no theory or system of reasoning that will determine 

 what stocks are suited to certain varieties but 

 actual experiment. 



