HORTICULTURE 165 



grown from nursery-propagated trees, was generally condemned, 

 and was commercially obscured for many years. But in 

 the orchards in which the variety happened to be grafted on 

 Northern Spy, or Tolman, it still retained the old-time vigor and 

 productiveness of the early orchards that were top-worked on strong- 

 growing seedlings. At the present time the variety is regaining its 

 former prestige in Michigan, where its commercial value depends on 

 top working it on a strong-growing variety. 



Methods of Obtaining a Self-Rooted Tree. There are several 

 practical ways of establishing a fruit tree on its own roots. Kieffer 

 pears, Marianna plums, and most myrobolan plum seedlings, as well 

 as some of the Japan plums, like Satsuma, may be grown from cut- 

 'tings. With apples, scions may be whip-grafted on a piece of seedling 

 root, and the scion planted at least 6 inches deep in strong, rather 

 moist, but well-drained soil. In dry soils and dry seasons, the scions 

 do not strike roots, but under favorable conditions the scion throws 

 out a root system the first year. The original piece root may be re- 

 moved, if it has thrown out roots, when the tree is taken from the 

 nursery. Plums and pears may also be self-rooted by whip-grafting 

 scions on piece roots. 



In California the Northern Spy has been successfully self-rooted 

 by inserting the scion by a veneer graft in the side of a whole seedling 

 root a few inches above the crown. The root and scion are planted 

 with the scion at least 6 inches in the ground. At the end of the sea- 

 son, after the scion has thrown out roots, the trees are lifted and the 

 seedling root removed. The trees are then reset in the nursery, 

 where they are cultivated until large enough for orchard planting. 



One of the most successful methods has been followed in Iowa. 

 It consists in inserting a scion of the desired variety on a piece or 

 whole root. The trees are grown in the nursery for two years, then 

 taken up and laid in trenches. Each branch, after being slightly cut 

 on the upper side, is bent up and well covered with earth, after the 

 usual method of layering. The branches strike roots during the first 

 season at the cut and bent portion, and in the fall or following spring 

 they are removed from the parent tree and planted in the nursery, 

 where they are cultivated until large enough for the orchard. 



To Hasten Fruitfulness. The insertion of buds in bearing trees 

 hastens the fruitfulness of the variety. As Sorauer says, "by this 

 insertion of a younger portion of a plant on an older stock the former 

 can reap all the advantages of the more advanced age of the latter ; 

 it becomes, indeed, older itself." Apples and pears bear in two to 

 five years earlier on scions in bearing trees than they do on nursery- 

 propagated trees of the same varieties, and peaches, plums, and 

 cherries one to three years sooner. 



To Perpetuate Desirable Characteristics. Fruit trees are gen- 

 erally propagated in nurseries from buds taken from vigorous nursery 

 stock. Occasionally the propagator selects the buds from bearing 

 trees, though the stand of nursery stock is smaller and the trees less 

 vigorous. The nurseryman is primarily concerned in producing a 

 block of vigorous, well-grown trees at the cheapest cost. The fruit 



