Experimerds loith the Pear upon the Apple. 393 



Art. II. Experiments ivith the Pear tipon the Apple. By 



T. S. HuMRicKHOusE, EsQ., Coshockton, Ohio. 



1 HAviNGiioticed a hope expressed, at foot of page 320, (Vol. XII.) 

 of your Magazine, that your correspondent, Mr. Thomas Aflieck 

 of Washington, Miss, "would keep you informed of the health, 

 product, and growth of his pears grafted on the apple," I am 

 induced to join you in that hope, and, in the mean time, to 

 offer you some notes of my experience upon the same subject. 



In the spring of 1838, I commenced a series of trials of the 

 pear upon the apple, in the nursery, by the method of root 

 grafting, which were continued up to 1844. The roots em- 

 ployed by me were of thrifty seedlings two years old ; and 

 were from half an inch to three quarters of an inch, or, per- 

 haps, one inch in diameter. They were pulled up from the 

 seedling bed shortly before they were wanted ; and, at the 

 time of grafting, were cut into suitable lengths of from four to 

 six inches, with more or less side and fibrous roots as might 

 happen. The scions generally contained three buds or eyes, 

 and might be two to four inches in length, depending upon 

 the distance asunder of the buds or eyes. After the operation 

 was performed, and they were planted in the nursery rows, 

 the top of the stock would be three quarters of an inch to one 

 inch and a half below the surface. The soil in which they 

 were set was a rich sandy loam. I am thus particular, in 

 order that the means may be afforded, if desirable, of forming 

 an estimate of the probable influence the attendant circum- 

 stances may have had upon the results. 



The number grafted and set out, at the first trial in 1838, 

 was eight grafts, about one half of which grew the first sea- 

 son, but died the second and third. 



The number grafted and set out at the second trial in 1839 

 was seventy-six, of which nine were a seedling variety, twen- 

 ty Pound, one Catharine, seven Green Chissel, two Seckel, 

 three Easter Bergamot, eight Doyenne Blanc, nine St. Ger- 

 main. Of the whole number, about one half grew the first 

 season. The Doyenne Blanc and St. Germain failed entirely. 

 One graft of Easter Bergamot grew, appeared thrifty, but died 

 suddenly the latter part of the second summer. Two of the 



VOL. XII. NO. X. 50 



