INFLUENCE OF THE STOCK. 



quince, the entire elaboration is effected by the 

 leaves of the pear, and the perfect fruit of the pear 

 is the result. It is only modified in quality by the 

 slight degree of difference in the sap of the pear 

 and quince, and by the degree of facility with 

 which the sap of the quince stock is given to the 

 pear. Hence the absurdity of the notion formerly 

 held that the stock might produce a distinct specific 

 change, analogous to that in hybrids ; for so far 

 from altering the character of the species, even the 

 variety is only slightly modified. 



" In proportion," says Lindley, " as the scion and 

 the stock approach each other closely in constitu- 

 tion, the less effect is produced by the latter ; and 

 on the contrary, in proportion to the constitutional 

 difference between the stock and the scion, is the 

 effect of the former important. Thus, when pears 

 are grafted or budded on the wild species, apples 

 upon crabs, plums upon plums, and peaches upon 

 peaches or almonds, the scion is, in regard to fer- 

 tility, exactly in the same state as if it had not 

 been grafted at all; while on the other hand, a 

 great increase of fertility is the result of grafting 

 pears upon quinces, peaches upon plums, apples 

 upon white-thorn, and the like. In these latter 

 cases, the food absorbed from the earth by the root 

 of the stock, is communicated slowly and unwil- 

 lingly to the scion : under no circumstance is the 

 communication between the one and the other as 



