174 EXPEKIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



THE INFLUENCE OF STOCK ON CION IN THE 

 GRAFTAGE OF PLUMS. 



BY F. A. WAUGH. 



One of the most interesting questions in the whole field of 

 horticulture is that of the mutual influences of stock on cion 

 or of cion on stock in the common practice of graftage. This 

 question has long been the subject of speculation and study in 

 the horticultural world, liut really definite results have been so 

 hard to secure that the whole field still presents more of doubt 

 than of certainty. Several years ago the writer, then connected 

 with the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, began a 

 series of experiments in cross-grafting plums, designed to throw 

 some light on these problems. These experiments have been 

 continued in one form or another ever since, and are still under 

 way in the department of horticulture, Massachusetts experi- 

 ment station. 



In one particular experiment, begun in 1898, the comparisons 

 proved most convincing and instructive. In this ease five differ- 

 ent varieties of plums were grafted upon four different kinds of 

 stocks, and very distinct modifications resulted, both from the 

 influence of cion on stock and of stock on cion. These results 

 have been reported from time to time in the publications of the 

 Vermont experiment station.^ The trees in this experiment 

 were planted in orchard form on the grounds of the Vermont 

 experiment station, where a number of them are still standing. 

 Through the kind permission of the officers of that station (Di- 

 rector J. L. Hills and Horticulturist Wm. Stuart) the present 

 writer has been enabled to renew his studies on the trees still 

 living. During the summer of 1908 a large number of measure- 



» Vermont experiment station report 13; pp. 333-354 (1900) ; 14; pp. 257-269 (1901); 15; pp. 

 249-260 (1902) ; IS; jip. .300-305 (1905). 



