STOCK AND SCION 



187 



transplanted scion. This it does in a remarkable degree ; 

 so that one purpose in grafting is to secure quicker growth. 

 An apple seedling will not bear much fruit until seven or 

 eight years old ; but if a scion from it is early grafted 

 upon some mature root, fruit may be secured some years 

 sooner. 



In certain cases, the stock exerts some other slight in- 

 fluence on the scion. Sweet-apple scions on crab-apple 

 stock bear sour fruit. 

 A quince stock will 

 dwarf a pear tree scion ; 

 and in like manner the 

 influence of a dwarf 

 apple tree will retard the 

 growth of scions from a 

 large apple tree. 



PRACTICAL QUESTIONS 



1. What is propagation? 

 2. Explain the statement 

 that all living things have a 

 period of life. 3. What is 

 germ plasm? 4. Name all 

 the parts of a plant that 

 may contain germ plasm. 



5. What is the sexual method 

 of plant reproduction? 



6. How does the asexual 

 method of reproduction dif- 

 fer from the sexual ? 7. Describe a bean seed. 8. What are some 

 of the general characteristics of plants which produce seeds ? 9. De- 

 scribe the structure of a grain of corn. 10. Discuss the value of seed 

 testing. 11. Explain how clover seed may be tested. 12. In what 

 sense may a seed be spoken of as a plantlet that has fallen asleep ? 

 13. How do farmers awaken seed to activity ? 14. Define a seedling. 

 15. What is the most critical period in the life of a plant. 16. W r hat 

 is the best depth for planting wheat and tobacco ? 17. Describe the 



GRAFTING EXERCISE. 



The boys are renovating an old apple 

 tree by cleft grafting. 



