THE ROOT SYSTEMS OF FRUIT PLANTS 597 



intermediate and the small remain small. The evidence indicates that this 

 condition is inherent in the trees and that in planting orchards only the large 

 nursery trees should be used. 



"An examination of sweet and sour orange seedling stock, such as is used for 

 budding, showed the presence of many widely different types. Some of these 

 types were propagated and the trees at the end of the 4H years still show the same 

 marked difference. Some are fully five times as large as others. Yet all such 

 types are used as stocks. 



"Budding on seedhng stocks of different types and unknown character of 

 growth is believed to be largely responsible for the different sizes of budded 

 trees developed in the nurseVy and also for many of the irregularities in size and 

 fruitfulness of orchard trees." 



These differences probably hold for the apple. A seedling apple 

 orchard seven years planted, at the Missouri Station, contains trees rang- 

 ing in circumference from one inch to sixteen. It is not likely that if 

 these seedling roots had been topworked to the same variety they would 

 all have made equally good trees. From all appearances, they have 

 maintained or increased — but not changed — their relative differences 

 in size; the trees that are largest have made good growth each year, 

 while those that are now inferior appear to have been inferior continuously. 



It should, however, be recalled that there are cases of a delayed effect 

 in dwarfing. Plums worked on sand cherry frequently make vigorous 

 growth in the first year, greater in fact than on other stocks which ulti- 

 matel}^ grow the larger trees. 



Gravenstein, on the Paradise apple in Germany is said to grow very 

 vigorously at first, but to grow very little after bearing."^ Chester 

 Pearmain and other varieties behave similarly. ^^ Like effects have been 

 recorded with Castanea vulgaris grafted on Quercus sessiliflora in an attempt 

 to grow chestnut in soils strong in lime; growth was very vigorous the 

 first year, but few grafts lived till the third year. Even shorter was the 

 success of Vinifera grapes on Cissus orientalis Lamarck. ^-^ Hatton'"' 

 may be quoted on this point: "It is often denied that this inequality in 

 the stocks shows itself in the worked trees. Although it is true that a 

 strong-growing variety, such as Bramley's Seedling, may largely obliterate 

 this inequality in the maiden, differences again become apparent in the 

 second and third years." To this extent, then, the grower buying 2-year 

 old graded stocks of some trees may perhaps be a little surer of having 

 runts weeded out. At present, however, the extent to which this delayed 

 effect is operative in common fruits cannot be stated. 



Briefly, in buying nursery stock, the grower who gets trees of good 

 size for their age, other things equal, is more nearly sure of getting trees 

 that will do well in his orchard. Buying the smaller grades he is buying 

 uncertain plants. They may be stunted only and may ultimately 

 make good trees. They may, however, be composed of runts which are 



