78 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



very prominent cases where true hybrids have been made 

 between stock and cion, that is, the resulting top partook 

 of the nature of both stock and cion, and this hybrid after- 

 ward propaofated. Mr. P. Barry thought this probably the 

 source of the sweet and sour apple; the Adams Laburnum 

 and Bizzaria Orange being noted instances. Still the 

 hundreds of thousands of grafts set every year without any 

 such combination is evidence that hybrids are not to be 

 expected. Some experimenters have produced what they 

 called potato graft hybrids— that is, grafted together parts 

 of potatoes and had resulting potatoes that were like 

 neither of the original pieces. It probably has been done, 

 but in most cases there was room for doubt. Professor 

 Bailey grafted together the tomato and potato plants, using 

 each for stock and cion. On his tomato on potato he had 

 tomatoes on top and potatoes on the root. On potato on 

 tomato the plants produced flowers but as is usually the 

 case of potatoes, no fruit resulted. In neither case was 

 there any evidence of h3^bridization. Of all changes men- 

 tioned from influence of the stock upon the cion, none are 

 permanent except the graft hybrids, and possibly disease. 

 Cions cannot carry the change to other trees. It might 

 occur again if a larger number of graftings were made, but 

 is no more certain than the original change itself. Some 

 of the graft hybrids have been propagated. Variegated or 

 diseased trees certainly are. 



To sum up : There is plenty of evidence that vigor, 

 size and shape of the tree can be much influenced upon 

 large stocks and often upon small ones, but aside from the 

 common practice of dwarfing with our present knowledge, 

 there is but little certainty as to the result. The reverse 

 influence is often developed, but not often of practical 

 value. On the fruit the stock often has a very marked 

 effect on color, flower and season, also on early producing by 

 the tree. No doubt much could be done by more carefully 

 studying the character of the fruit of the stock before top 

 marking. Hardiness is affected by different stocks, but 

 with it the careful observation of the adaptability of stocks 

 to soil or locality would add greatly to our valuable 

 information. 



