26 THE APPLE CULTUR1ST. 



ence, which may be accounted for by the fact that in these 

 cases strong tap-roots were sent down deep into the sub- 

 soil, which supplied the growing trees with sufficient moist- 

 ure. It will doubtless be found that, when root-grafted 

 trees fail, they are destitute of tap-roots, or large-branch- 

 ing roots, to supply moisture in dry weather, when the 

 roots near the surface of the ground can not obtain the 

 necessary amount. 



Any one at all conversant with the habit of the different 

 varieties of apple-trees knows that there is a great differ- 

 ence in the growth and hardihood of the original stock. 

 This subject is not half enough considered by the orchard- 

 ist. Let him go into a nursery where all the different vari- 

 eties are growing in a good soil, each shading and protect- 

 ing the other thickly in the rows, under good, and frequent- 

 ly forced cultivation, and he will at once suppose they are 

 all alike thrifty, hardy, and promising. But such is only 

 the fact while in the nursery. Some varieties are tender, 

 slow of growth, and never hardy when exposed in the 

 orchard to the fierce heats and cold blasts which alternate- 

 ly shine upon and sweep over them. Other varieties 

 are hardy, vigorous, and stalwart under all circumstances. 

 Others still there are which bend and writhe about, scarce- 

 ly knowing which way to grow. These different modes 

 of growth are original properties of the wood itself, nat- 

 ural, organic, and only to be corrected or overcome by care 

 and attention in the subsequent training of the trees. 



An intelligent pomologist writes that the result of this 

 process of raising trees by root-grafting is, that after ten 

 or twelve years standing in the orchard, with equal care 

 and cultivation, some trees are twice or thrice the size of 

 others. Some are feeble and decaying, from innate weak- 

 ness or exposure to outside influences; while others are 

 strong and vigorous as oaks or maples. We think it will 



