56 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



eracy commences In' using grafted stock upon gi-afted stock, and M' 

 using seed from such stock, the result is furtner accomplished. We 

 of course have good varieties from grafted seed, but generalh* there 

 is some "out" with them. The .St. Lawrence, supposed to be a 

 seedling of the Fameuse, which to many is of fine flavor, has its 

 defects ; first, it spots, which is fatal to its character, it loses its 

 flavor early, grows soft, and generally cankery or dry rot. The 

 tree is of a tender nature. I think the variety is one of the kind 

 that is likely to run out like the Ortl}- and some others, by continual 

 grafting. 



It requires the utmost care to raise pear seedlings from grafted 

 stock seed. I expended twenty-two dollars for pear seed, and did 

 not raise one single plant This seed I had from difl:erent parties. 

 I did not give up trying. I was in Boston and went into the seed 

 department at Faneuil Hall to purchase one more quarter of a pound. 

 The dealer had it on hand but told me he would not warrant it to 

 grow, but that he knew whei-e he could procure what he called 

 "wild seed." He explained to me that it was from the native 

 natural tree, and that he would send me some as soon as he obtained 

 it, which he did, onh- one-half ounce being my share among others 

 to whom he had promised it. The result was, I raised a crop of 

 tine seedlings, only a very few showed any signs of tenderness. 



There is one thing more that produces tender trees, and a verdict 

 of " guilty" should be pronounced on the nurseryman who raises and 

 sends them out for sale, not as nature planned, but as man sought 

 to improve them by cutting off their tap root. After using the 

 grafted seed they resort to this practice claiming that it is the ver}' 

 life of the tree, then by applying strong dressing causing a forced 

 growth which cannot be otherwise than tender. Bj^ growing so 

 qnickl3- it does not give time to ripen np its wood. In this' direction 

 come thousands of tender trees. This is not all that nurserymen 

 are guilty of ; in producing tender stock tbe^' take slips of roots six 

 to eight inches long and set on to the growing end of a scion. This 

 is done in work-shops through the winter months, being placed in 

 sand in a cool cellar until wanted for setting or planting in the spring, 

 which is done in a rich plat of ground lor the purpose — a perfect 

 hot-bed. This is another way of producing tender stock. These 

 things are evils of a bad order, — I see no way to remedy it, but for 

 each one to raise his own trees. You can get fruit sooner and you 

 will kno"w that b}- raising your own trees, what you have, b}- graft- 



