92 AMEKICAN POMOLOGY. 



arguments can be produced against the practice, nursery- 

 men will continue to graft on sections of root, such va- 

 rieties, as are suitable for this procedure especially ap- 

 ples, in a large proportion of the varieties cultivated, some 

 pears, some peaches, grapes, and other fruits. 



Root grafting is now of almost universal application 

 with the apple. It has many advantages, which may be 

 summed up as follows : Two or more plants may be pro- 

 duced from the root of one stock ; these may be made with 

 great rapidity ; the work may all be performed in-doors 

 and during the whole winter season, when nothing can be 

 done outside ; they are of small bulk, and great numbers 

 may be stowed away in little space, they may be trans- 

 ported to any distance in this condition, and are ready for 

 planting with the opening of spring, when they may be 

 set in the nursery rows at once ; or, they may be bedded 

 out in a small space and mulched, to protect them from 

 drouth, and the weeds can easily be kept under. Another 

 advantage of bedding out the root-grafts is, that they may 

 be assorted according to their size the next season, when 

 transplanted into the nursery rows. This very transplant- 

 ing too is a great advantage, for the roots will be much 

 improved by the process. 



The theoretical objections to root grafts have yielded 

 to sound philosophy, based on and supported by practical 

 observation. The very many advantages of this more 

 economical and convenient and agreeable process, will 

 necessarily sustain root-grafting in this fast age, when so 

 many millions of trees are needed for the rapidly extend- 

 ing wants of this nation of tree planters. We may, how- 

 ever, consider some of the practical objections which have 



