on their own Roots. 139 



soil, throws out roots, which acquire in time so much vigor 

 and strength, that those of the primitive tree, or stock, grad- 

 ually become decomposed, and serve for nourishment to the 

 new ones. We know that many trees and shrubs, indigenous 

 and exotic, re-root themselves in this way, without the as- 

 sistance of art. This phenomenon is sometimes seen also, in 

 fruit trees ; especially those grafted upon quince stocks, and 

 in apples dwarfed on paradise stocks. 



I have noticed that this re-rooting is an immense advan- 

 tage to trees which occupy a soil not well adapted to their 

 longevity or vigor ; in this case, art should assist the re-root- 

 ing in the following manner : 



At the time of planting the trees, the graft should be in- 

 serted a few inches below the surface of the soil ; two or 

 three years afterwards, during the summer, and at the time 

 when the descending sap is most abundant, which is usually 

 in July, the earth should be removed at the foot of each 

 tree, so as to lay bare the swelling of the graft ; after which, 

 several incisions should be made with a sharp gouge, raising 

 up from below, several tongues of the thickness of the bark 

 and alburnum ; this operation will give them a concave form, 

 of which the length will be at least double the width ; these 

 incisions should be multiplied, according to the size of the 

 trees upon which the operation is performed ; but more than 

 a quarter of the bark should never be removed. These 

 wounds should be immediately covered with the richest soil ; 

 one-fourth cow-manure, to three-fourths of fresh loam, well 

 mixed, are, in my opinion, the best and simplest application ; 

 one or two shovels full of this mixture are sufficient to cause 

 the tree to throw out a large quantity of roots, which, shoot- 

 ing down into the natural soil, sustain the life of the trees 

 during a considerable time. 



It is to be regretted that this method is not employed at 

 this day with young trees in our gardens and orchards, where 

 we sometimes see a few trees which have naturally re-rooted, 

 and are growing with remarkable vigor ; while, beside them, 

 we see the same kinds living only upon their first roots, lan- 

 guishing during their short existence, and then dying, with 

 an enlargement at the union of the graft with the stock. 

 This swelling seems to invite the cultivator to perform, at 



