STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5§ 



bulky, require the handling of so much more earth to pack in, and 

 also require more time to plant out, for as now made they are so 

 small that thousands can be placed in a single box of moderate 

 eize. 



So many of the trees thus pi'opagated as are grafted upon crowns 

 have a fair chance to make pretty good trees, but the probability 

 decreases as lower portions of the root are used. The saving in 

 cost of production by this method of propagation, over using whole 

 seedling roots, may possibly be two or three cents each, or $20 to 

 $30 per thousand. Whatever it be it is so much clear profit, and 

 for this alone the practice is perseveringly persisted in. It is 

 proper, however, to say that in the Middle States generally, this 

 class of trees gives a much better degree of satisfaction than in 

 either the far Eastern or the Northwestern States. 



It is also true, and I am happy to state the fact, that "root- 

 grafted trees" as now grown in western New York, are less 

 objectionable than they were ten to fifteen years ago. Then the 

 pieces of root used to graft upon were smaller than now, and they 

 were not always cut from young trees ; consequently, a larger 

 proportion than now depended chiefly upon roots thrown out from 

 the scions, and hence were little else than rooted cuttings. 



This trivial saving in cost of production by the nursery tree 

 grower is overwhelmingly counterbalanced by the loss of stabil- 

 ity, productiveness and longevity experienced by the planter. 

 For his use, the difference in value is diminished enormously, for 

 the cost of planting and caring for a good tree is no more than for 

 a poor one, nor does it occupy more land — while the good one 

 gives a good income and proves a profitable investment, and the 

 poor one proves a poor investment and does not yield profit, or 

 does involve loss. A good one is cheaper at a larger price — even 

 at ten times the ordinary price — than the poor one is as a gift. 



To sum up the case briefly, we say that Maine should raise her 

 own fruit trees in preference to buying from abroad. Because, in 

 the first place, we can grow them as well as not, and save so much 

 money which would otherwise go out. 



2d. Because for the satisfactory production of a large number 

 of desirable kinds, including some of the more popular and pro- 

 ductive sorts, success can generally be attained only by planting 

 in the orchard seedling trees to be grafted when of suitable size or 

 age ; and these seedlings, before being planted out, should be 

 proved to be sufficiently hardy to endure our climate by having 



