ROOT-GRAFTED TREES. 275 



plants, where by the old and better method he could 

 produce but one; and the labor can be performed 

 at a season of leisure. Only the experienced few 

 will purchase the first class of trees, and pay a cor- 

 responding price for them. We believe, with the 

 lamented William Reid, of New Jersey, that many 

 apple trees which have been sold, especially in the 

 Western country, will not be likely to attain a 

 bearing condition. Such is the demand for cheap 

 apple trees, that the very best nurserymen are 

 obliged to keep those of this class. 



If such trees are examined critically, it will be 

 discovered that their roots are a mass of fibres, like 

 a head of hair, and possessing very few, if any, large 

 roots. After the most careful transplanting in 

 excellent soil, or in that which was barren, it is 

 impossible to induce them to throw strong roots. 

 Under such circumstances they will be sensitive to 

 the least wind, and there is nothing to prevent their 

 being blown to the ground. The tree is merely a 

 cutting, and the little piece of root into which it is 

 grafted serves to keep the scion alive only until it 

 is established. 



While the use of the third or fourth cut as a 

 stock for grafting should be discountenanced, that 

 of the second may be of use in some cases. As its 

 effect is to dwarf the tree, it may bring some of the 

 late-bearing varieties to an earlier maturity. Such 

 has been the repeated effect upon the Northern 



