CAUSES OF FRUITFULNESS. 83 



4. Bending the branches doivnwards, by changing 

 their natural position, as well as causing a partial 

 obstruction where bent, is said eminently to pro- 

 mote their fruitfulness. 



In all these modes, it must be remembered that 

 the desired result will not be produced at once, as 

 the first year is occupied in the formation of flower 

 buds; and the next in their growth into fruit. 

 This delay, however, will not take place, where 

 the difficulty consists merely in the fruit not setting, 

 the buds being already formed. 



5. The influence of the stock, when it differs in 

 nature from the graft, is often of importance. The 

 more widely they differ, the greater will be the 

 effect. Thus, when pears grow upon pears, the 

 effect is the same as when not grafted at all. But 

 pears on quinces are attended with an increase of 

 fertility. Hence the quince stock is adopted for 

 some otherwise sterile varieties. Such trees how- 

 ever, are short lived. 



These artificial modes of inducing fruitfulness 

 are not to be recommended for general practice. It 

 is true that trees will yield fruit sooner; but heavy 

 crops from young trees are not desirable, as stunt- 



zag appearance. Observe that no bark was cut out, though 

 the wood was scraped. This operation was very effectual 

 however. The next season that branch bore plentifully, 

 while the other branch remained as unproductive as before. 

 The cutting never appeared to injure the branch. D. 

 Thomas. 



