274 EOOT-GRAFTED TREES. 



Where tliese meet at the surface of the ground, there 

 is a swellmg, called a collar, which is perhaps, more 

 than any other part, the seat of life. The mainte- 

 nance of its proper position is of vital importance. 

 Perhaps one-half of the trees which fail, after trans- 

 planting, do so because this collar is placed beneath 

 the surface ; and this stifles the tree. This swelling 

 is only possessed by seedlings, and never by lay- 

 ers, or otherwise artificially-produced plants. Some 

 years ago it was the custom to cut the long tap- 

 root of a yearling into three or four parts, into each 

 of which a scion was inserted. In this way several 

 plants were produced from one. That upon the 

 upper cut, or collar, would, of course, form trees 

 equally as good as those which were budded. The 

 next piece, on account of its strength, might make 

 a good tree ; yet it would be of more dwarfish habit 

 than the former. Those grafted upon the remaining 

 portions of root would be nearly, if not altogether 

 worthless, sometimes never coming into fruit. They 

 may grow in the nursery lines until large enough 

 to sell, but, compared with a budded tree, or one 

 grafted properlij^ they are only calculated to disap- 

 point and discourage the beginner. 



But why are such practices encouraged by pur- 

 chasers I In the endeavor to buy at a cheap rate 

 the cultivator has driven nurserymen to this only 

 remaining expedient for obtaining remuneration for 

 his labor. In this manner he can raise several 



