THE ROOT SYSTEMS OF FRUIT PLANTS 593 



adaptabilities to different conditions in a manner comparable to those 

 now catalogued for grapes and of making possible much finer fitting 

 of trees to environment. 



Propagating Apples and Pears by Layerage and Hardwood Cuttings. — 

 Investigation of propagation of apples and pears by hardwood cuttings 

 seems of possible value as well. These cuttings root readily in the 

 tropics and in some of the southern states, such as Florida, Mississippi 

 and Texas, and could perhaps be rooted elsewhere if proper soil tempera- 

 tures were provided. Kieffer and LeConte among pears and Northern 

 Spy among apples seem to root especially well, though this ability 

 is possessed by other varieties. Similar cases have been reported in 

 England. 



Warcollier in France is reported to have had mediocre results with 

 cuttings of 30 to 50 centimeters of the previous season, well ripened; 

 success was possible only with soft wooded varieties. Others in France 

 reported very satisfactory results using branches of 3 or 4 years' growth, 

 with side growths removed, plunged into the soil to a depth of 10 to 25 

 centimeters. Varieties of moderate or feeble vigor, particularly one 

 known as "Petit doux, " gave the best results. "■* 



The propagation of the Northern Spy stocks used for all apples in Victoria 

 is chiefly from layers and stools. The parent Spy stocks are planted 2 feet apart 

 in rows 4 or 5 feet distant in June (autumn in Australia). The processes followed 

 are described by Cole:*° "In August cut back to within an inch of the ground 

 level, so as to get a supply of buds to or below the soil to push out. The 

 following August cut back to two buds any weak or light growth, pegging down 

 the stronger parallel with the row or other planted stocks. The buds upon the 

 pegged-down growths, being now brought into a vertical position, will send up a 

 sufficient supply of shoots for working upon sound lines. About November, 

 mould them up lightly by removing some of the higher soil from the middle of 

 the rows. During the following winter remove soil about the layers and cut 

 away any light shoots that may have rooted hardening back others close to 

 the main layer. 



"The propagator should not be too eager in removing rooted shoots from the 

 main laj^ers until after the fourth season, but will be repaid by cutting hard back, 

 forming good, well-rooted crowns for future use. From now out the operator 

 mil require to use his own judgment regarding the growths he cuts hard back and 

 those he leaves for pegging down after removing any that may be rooted. In 

 the winter mould up after cutting away any rooted stocks and the pegging down 

 is finished, and again in November or December. Deep or over moulding should 

 be avoided. 



" Stooling. — This method is somewhat similar to that of layering, but instead 

 of pegging down the unrooted shoots they are cut hard back each year, so as to 

 encourage as many as possible to show out. The second season from planting, 

 and after the shoots have been cut back to within an inch or so of the stool, mould 

 lightly, and again in November or December. If the shoots do not root, this 



