XX.] EFFECTS OF GRAFT AGE. 343 



apple orchards are well fed. There are numerous 

 instances in this state of well-fed orchards whicli are 

 longer lived than contiguous ones which are under- 

 fed. Soils are not so rich as they were in our grand- 

 fathers' days. 



Neglect certainly ruins many orchards, but I can- 

 not see that it is any more disastrous now than it 

 was formerly, unless, perhaps, it obtains an accel- 

 erated influence because of the lesser fertility of the 

 soil. It was neglect in the old orchards which 

 weeded out the weak trees and emphasized the lon- 

 gevity of the strong ones. It must have the same 

 effect at the present day. 



7. Methods of propagation. — Much is said con- 

 cerning the devitalizing influence of the common 

 methods of propagation, but I have yet to find any 

 proof that they have such effect. There are two 

 features of propagation, in particular, which appear 

 to be held accountable for much mischief : Growing 

 stocks from pomace seeds, and grafting. 



Domestic apple seeds are obtained indiscriminately 

 from pomace, and imported seeds are procured in 

 essentially the same manner from the crab stocks of 

 Europe. This promiscuous seed -sowing is supposed 

 by some to tend towards the deterioration of the 

 constitution of the species, but there are no facts in 

 support of the assumption. Others contend that by 

 this means we obtain an uneven and variable basis 

 upon which to propagate our orchard trees, and this 

 is certainly true. Seedings vary much among them- 

 selves in constitution, and we practice little elimi- 

 nation of the tenderer or least adaptable ones. But 

 I do not see that this unevenness of stock should 



