54 Root Grafting, <^c. 



ble 7 f Does it not tend to produce blight ? And can the wood 

 be so well matured as when the growth is slower? These 

 are subjects worthy of consideration by the orchardist. 



Such trees as our correspondent states he has had since 

 1832, without coming into fruit, we should deem fit subjects 

 for root-pruning ; this, we are sure, will speedily induce them 

 to bear. It at once checks the growth, and causes the forma- 

 tion of fruit spurs. We have tried this ourselves, and seen 

 it fully and successfully tried by others. It may be done the 

 coming spring. 



We have root grafted the pear, apple and plum, but never 

 the peach, as we could not see that any thing could be gained 

 by the operation, for the seedlings are always of sufficient 

 size to bud the first year, and there is far more leisure in the 

 months of August and September to do this, than to graft in 

 the spring. We do not doubt but that the operation of root 

 grafting may be as well done on the peach as with the plum ; 

 and of the latter we have had fine trees ; as to the graft mak- 

 ing a much handsomer tree, we think this must be an error. 

 No better trees can be produced than those we have raised 

 from buds, being clothed with branches to the ground, — far 

 more numerous than should be allowed to remain when the 

 trees are removed where they are to stand. Where peach 

 stones are difficult to procure, root grafting may be very de- 

 sirable, as roots from old trees can be had for the purpose. 



Root grafting the rose is very extensively practised with us, 

 and of the very rare kinds we raise hundreds in this manner. 

 So successful is the operation, that, from scions cut from trees 

 imported from France in October, we have had plants a foot 

 high in May, and ready for planting out into the border, and, 

 of perpetuals, in full bloom in nine months. 



The apricot will do very well upon the peach, and where the 

 peach borer is not troublesome, it will answer every purpose. 

 But in this region the borer commits such ravages that the 

 plum stock is far the best ; besides, the plum checks the rapid 

 growth of the tree, and consequently the wood is better 

 ripened and able to resist severe winters. We work our apri- 

 cots upon the muscle plum, which is a free grower. The 

 Chickasaw and Canada plum are both unfit, though we know 

 many nurserymen who use them altogether. We have sev- 



