GENERAL POINTS CONCERNING FRUIT TREE STOCKS 183 



all this seemingly extra work of grafting? Why do not nursery- 

 men sell us plants on their own roots? In no other way can fruit 

 trees true to name be propagated so rapidly. In some cases there 

 is no other possible method of multiplying a variety. Unfortunately, 

 the stocks chiefly chosen by nurserymen are those which can be 

 worked most easily and soonest give a presentable nursery tree. 

 [As a rule the seedlings of a species make the best stocks for that 

 species.] Fruit growers, if they give the matter thought, choose 

 stocks that do not sucker, or that best suit their soil and in a few 

 cases one that will give a dwarf tree. All other effects of stock 

 on cion are ignored by both nurseryman and fruit grower. 



It does not follow, however, that whatsoever stock one wants 

 can be used. Even when kinship is close some plants resist all 

 appliances of art to make a successful union, while some distinct 

 species of fruits seem foreordained to be joined. Thus, a 

 pear will not grow well on an apple nor an apple on a pear, 

 closely related though they are; but the pear readily unites with 

 quince and hawthorn. So, too, peach and apricot are grafted on 

 each other only with difficulty, but both readily unite with almond 

 and plum. Sweet and sour cherries grow well on mahaleb cherry, 

 but mahaleb will not grow on any of the cultivated cherries- 

 Sour cherries upon sweet ones succeed less well than the latter on 

 the former. The gooseberry will not grow on red currant, but 

 thrives on black currant. 



Something more is necessary, then, than botanical kinship, but 

 just what no one knows beyond, of course, the knowledge that 

 there must be some conformity in habit between stock and cion ; 

 that the two must start in growth at approximately the same time ; 

 and that the tissues must be sufficiently alfke that there be proper 

 contact in the union. Yet these facts do not sufficiently explain the 

 affinities and antipathies which plants show. Thus, the propagator 

 has little to guide him in selecting stocks and can choose only 

 after making repeated trials, near relationship being the only 

 guide, even though often an untrustworthy one. 



231. Influence of stock propagation method. Not only are 

 grafted plants affected by kind of stock used, but also by manner of 

 propagating stocks, whether from seed or from cuttings. There 

 is no question, for example, that stocks propagated by cuttings do 

 not produce the deep tap and prong roots that seedlings do. Again, 

 seedlings lifted and root-pruned the season before budded or 

 grafted have thicker root systems than if not so transplanted. 



It seems necessary, therefore, to say that for the best interests 

 of fruit-growing we cannot neglect the way in which stocks are 

 grown. Undoubtedly for some conditions we shall find stocks from 

 cuttings preferable ; under others, and generally, seedlings will be 

 better when we have a choice. So too, usually, when nursery prac- 

 tice permits, a stock is better for having been transplanted before 

 budding or grafting. 



232. Pedigreed trees. The selection of stocks leads straight to 

 the center of another problem. We hear much about the in- 



