THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 2. 



Ellects of the Stock on Grafted Fruit. 



A lolc number of tUc Yankee Farmer, contains 

 Bome remarks of the editor, relative to the influenee 

 of lUe stock un grafted fruit, copied from a former vol- 

 nme, in wUicU ho lays down the following proposi- 

 tions: 



1. " Stocks have an eifect as to bearing years. 



2. Stocks affect the scion in hastening or retarding 

 the ripening of fruit. 



3. Stocks produce defects on grafted fruit 



4. Stocks affect the color of fruit. 



5. Stocks affect the quality of fruit. 

 C. Stocks have an inffuencc in increasing or decreas- 

 ing the size of fruit." 



Thissuhject is not new to horticuluirists. An elab- 

 orate article by Dr. Mease of Philadelphia, affirming 

 Buch inlluence was reviewed by us several years ago, 

 in the 3d volume of the Genesee Farmer; but we did 

 not think at the time, that the evidence was conclu- 

 ■ive: and we have seen nothing since, to induce us to 

 change that opinion. Still, we are willing to examine 

 the subject anew with fairness and candor. 



Wc should have been gratified if the editor had giv- 

 en in detail, the facte on which he founds those opin- 

 ions; but as he has only done so in part, we would re- 

 epectfullr suggest that if these propositions are true, 

 it would not be difficult to prove them by experi- 

 ments faithfully recorded, from the commeiicement to 

 the termination, and before wilnceses of unexceptiou- 

 olile charncter. Statements of this kind would have 

 a weight that solitary or imperfeet recollections can ne- 

 ver produce; and more espccinlly where the obeervalions 

 are hastily taken, without a thorough examination of 

 all the circumstances connected with the subject. 



But wc cannot properly omit on this occasion, the 

 Btatement made by Professor Lindley, that " no such 

 influence can be exercised." lie adds: "Those who 

 fancy that the Quince, for instance, communicates 

 ionie of its austerity to the Pear, can scarcely have 

 considered the question nhysiologically, or they would 

 have seen that the whole of the food communicated 

 from the alburnum of the Quince to that of the Pear 

 is in nearly the same state as when it entered the roots 

 of the former. Whatever elaboration it imdergoes, 

 must nccesBarily take place in the foliage of the Pear; 

 wliere, far from the influence of the Quince, secre- 

 tions natural to the variety, go on with no more inter- 

 ruption than if the Quince formed no part of the sys- 

 tem of the individual." 



This decision is emphatic; and so far as we can 

 perceive, the reasoning ia as clear and conrlusive as 

 can be expected from theoretical considerations alone. 

 If there are facts however, that come in conflict, their 

 weight must be allowed, and the theory should then 

 be revised and amended. 



Bearing in alternate years is a hnbit chiefly observa- 

 ble among apple trees; for when the pear, the peach, 

 the plum, and the quince fail to be regular bearers in 

 this quarter, the deficiency is to be ascribed to unfa- 

 Torable seasons, or the depredations of insects. The 

 case is otherwise however, with some varities of the 

 apple; and we have supposed the habit was owing to 

 the trees becoming through exhaustion, unable to pro- 

 duce blossom buds for the next season. In this in- 

 deed, we may be mistaken; but of two things we are 

 confident; moderate bearers are commonly annual 

 bearers; and those that we find unproductive, have 

 generally borne profusely in the preceding season. As 

 examples, v.'c would name Vedder's pippins, and the 

 Sweet Pough, or Harvest apple. The former is an 

 alternate bearer; but the latter bears every year; and 

 as we have half a dozen trees set on as many dilfcrent 

 sesdlings, among, which we have observed no vnria- 

 lioa in poinurregulwit^, «iu:lin«6« cr productiveness — 



wc feel at liberty to inter that these Btocks have had no 

 influence on the grafts. 



But alternate bearers conform to circumstances in 

 commencing their biennial course. We had six trees 

 of a russet apple, all of the same variety, halfof which 

 bore abundDutly at one time, and the other half in the 

 following year. Now if alternate bearing is caused 

 by excess in one season, and we prevent that excess 

 by destroying a portion of the blossoms, we shall cer- 

 tainly prevent alternate bearing. How then con a 

 stock subject to such conformity, induce a graft to al- 

 ter its time of bearingi It appears to ue, it can- 

 not be. 



There are some things in regard to the ripening of 

 the same variety on different stocks however, that we 

 are not prepared to explain. For instance, we have 

 three trees of the Transparent Guigne cherry, one of 

 which ripens a week or ten days before the others. 

 The late trees stand near together— the other at the 

 distance of sixty feet. The subsoil in that part of the 

 fruit garden is very variable — small beds of sand in 

 some places, and clay and stones in others; but we 

 know not what tjie subsoil is under those trees. Nei- 

 ther do we know whether the stocks are all suckers of 

 the Morello," or a part of Kentish* cherry. We may 

 ascertain this next season. In the mean time we are 

 quite as much disposed to ascribe the difference in the 

 time of ripening, to the subsoil, as we are to the 

 stocks. 



It is well known however, that stocks have an influ- 

 ence on the ripening of wood, and tender sorts be- 

 come hardier when grafted on hardy stocks — not be- 

 cause the latter exerts any specific influence on the 

 former, but because the usual supplies of sap are with- 

 held earlier in the season, and the wood has 

 more time to mature. The some effect is pro- 

 duced when tender shrubs are planted in dry, ste- 

 rile, rocky situations. 



In examining appearances out of the usual order of 

 things, great care is necessary to prevent ue from draw- 

 in" wrong inferences. When different trees derived 

 from the same parent-variety, differ in their fruit, per- 

 haps the first idea that occurs is a difference between 

 the stocks, and the matter is settled too often we ap- 

 prehend, without further examination. But let us not 

 deceive ourselves. If the stock affects grafted fruit, 

 its action must be regular, every year alike; for hav- 

 ing neither leaves nor branches, it is less subject to vi- 

 cissitude than any other part of the tree; and therefore 

 no variation in the flavor, shape, or color of the fruit, 

 can be justly ascribed to the stock, except it be regu- 

 lar and every year alike. If it is not so, we must 

 search for some other cause; and even if it is so, there 

 may be another cause. Several years ago, we had the 

 Washington plum of a light but splendid red. The 

 tree however, never produced fruit of that color either 

 before or since. Tho cause therefore could not be in 

 the stocks. 



Again — we have three trees of the September pear 

 (Summer Bon Creticn?) growing on pear stocks; 

 and several branches of this fine veriety on a Spitzen- 

 burgh apple tree. About nine years ago, the latter 

 bore pcnra that were rcdilcr, and sourer, and more as- 

 tringent, than the fruit from the other trees; «nd wc 

 fancied that the Spitzcnburgh had imparled some ofiis 

 qualities. The cause appeared very plain. Could it 

 be in any thing but the stock! Yes— they never bore 

 such fruit before or since; and the pears are as yellow, 

 and B8 sweet, nndaB pleasant, as any that are produ- 

 ced by the other trees. The stock therefore could have 

 had no agency in the matter. 



We have two trees of the Summer Bell pear. For 

 several years past, one has borne large fair fruit, chang- 



ing from green to yellow as it ripens, — while the other 

 tree has produced reddish pears, but so knotty, astrin- 

 gent, and unpaletable, that we have consigned them to 

 the hogs; and year after year there was no improvement. 

 Well, what stronger proof can be wanted that the 

 stock affected the graft? — Not too fast That tree has 

 begun to bear better fruit; and we have no doubt of 



its final recovery though the disease we can neither 

 name nor describe. 



The large White Currant is a delicious fruit; and 

 we have hod some dozen or fifteen bushels planted in 

 a row, all from the same parent-variety, but about one 

 half of them bear fruit very superior to the others- 

 much sweeter and more juicy or melting; and every 

 visitor who has tasted them, concurs in this opinion. 

 And tliey are regularly so, every year alike. Well, 

 is not this a clear proof of the efl'ects of the stock on 

 the graft? — No — they have no stocks — they stand on 

 their own roois. t 



"Tiiesc two sorts as Btoeks, are well nJaptcU to test this 

 ipiestisn.] __j 



Culture of the Peach Tvee. 



It has been mentioned by writers on the cidture of the 

 peach tree, that hot water poured round the trunk at 

 the surface of the ground, will destroy tho worm. We 

 have not yet tried it, but we intend to do so; and in the 

 mean time we would suggest to our readers, that it 

 may be done at any lime during the winter or spring 

 when there is no snow and the soil is unfrozen. We 

 think the work would be more thoroughly done how- 

 ever, if the gum be first removed, so that the hot wa- 

 ter may enter the habitation of this insect. 



Soot has been found excellent for this tree. In one 

 case that has come to our knowledge, its pale leaves 

 were changed into a dark green by this application 

 round its roots; and though the effect may in part have 

 been caused by the destruction of the worm, it has 

 doubtless, acted also as a manure. Those who have 

 stove pipes to clean and peach trees to ciUtivate, should 

 save the soot for this purpose. 



One of the most deplorable conditions that a peach 

 tree can be placed in, is to stand in a meadow or grass 

 cjround which is annually mowed. Sometimes we see 

 them in door-yards where the grass grows strong, but 

 where neither pige, nor sheep nor cattle, are allowed to 

 enter. A half starved tree however, is no ornament in 

 front of a house; but we will not find fault with- 

 out proposing a remedy. Cidtivate a circle round 

 each tree, of two or three feet in diameter; and hoe in 

 manure from tho stable, the hog pen, the hen roost, 

 the leach tub, or the wood pile, not forgetting the stove 

 pipe, and the tree will soon compensate for the labor 

 by its beauty and productiveness. t 



A Tariff for Kevenue made to subserve Pro- 

 tectiou. The imiiortaiiceof eucoiuagjngthe 

 t'uUure and Manufacture of Silk. 



Messrs. Editors. — The assertion that Domestic 

 Cottons have been cheapened instead of becoming 

 dearer under a protective tariff, is proved by the pre 

 sent extreme low prices of the article. It is not my 

 purpose, however, to advocate the same measure of 

 bi^'h tariff" for the protection of every other branch of 

 American industry. The falling off of the revenue 

 on imported cottons, as home production supplied their 

 place, must now be made up by increased imports on 

 other articles of foreign growth or production. In- 

 stead then of laying a duty on tea and coffee, as is 

 suggested by the Editor of the N. Y. American, why 

 not collect a revenue from such articles as eon be pro- 

 duced in the United States ? Tea and coffee, al- 

 though luxuries, are the luxuries of the most precious 

 of aU classes in the United States— the independent, 

 well paid, laboring classes. Besides this, tea is not 

 now, as formerly, paid for exclusively in the precious 

 metals; but in the way of trade, either indirectly 

 throufih England, or directly with Cliinas Neither 



