THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 



Effects of the Stock on Grafted Fnilt. 



A late number of the Yankee Farmer, contains 

 Bome remarks of the editor, relative to the influence 

 of the stock on grafted fruit, copied from a former vol- 

 ume, in which he lays down the following proposi- 

 tions: 



1. " Stocks hnro an effect ne to bearing yeare. 



2. Stocks otFcct the scion in hastening or retarding 

 the ripening of fruit. 



3. Stocks produce defects on grafted fruit. 



4. Stocks nfiect the color of fruit. 



5. Stocks affect the quality of fruit. 



6. Stocks have an inlliience in increasing or decreas- 

 ing the size of fruit." 



This subject is not new to horticulturists. An elab- 

 orate article by Dr. Mease of Philadelphia, affirming 

 Buch influence was reviewed by us several years ago, 

 in the od volume of the Genesee Farmer; but we did 

 not thmk at the time, that the evidence was concUi- 

 eive: and we have seen nothing since, to induce ue to 

 change that opinion. Still, we are willing to examine 

 the lubject anew with fairness and candor. 



We should have been gratified if the editor had giv- 

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

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

 epectfully suggest that if these propositions are true, 

 it would not be dilTicult to prove them by e-xperi- 

 menti faithfully recorded, from the commencement to 

 the termination, and before witnesses of unexception- 

 able character. Slatementi of this kind would have 

 a weight that solitary or imperfect recollections con ne- 

 ver produce; and more especially where the observotions 

 are hastily taken, without a thorough examination of 

 all the cirsumatances connected with the subject. 



But we cannot properly omit on this occasion, the 

 Btatement made by Professor Lindley, that " no such 

 influence can be exercised." He odds: "Those who 

 fancy that the Quince, for instance, communicates 

 aome of its austerity to the Pear, can scorcely have 

 considered the question vhyiologically, 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 aame state as when it entered the roots 

 of the former. WhatcTer elabsralion it undergoes, 

 must necessarily take place in the foliage of the Pear; 

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

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

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

 tem of the individual." 



This decision is emphatic; and so far as wo can 

 perceive, the reasoning is as clear and conrlusive os 

 can be expected from theoretical considerations alone. 

 If there are facts howcrer, thaPcome in conflict, their 

 weight must be allowed, and the theory should then 

 be revised and amended. 



Bearing in alternate years Is a habit 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- 

 vorable seasons, or the depredations of insects. The 

 case is otherwise however, with some vorities of the 

 apple; and we hare supposed the habit was owing to 

 the trees becoming through exhaustion, unable to pro- 

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

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

 confldent; moderate bearers are commonly annual 

 bearers; and those that we find unproductive, have 

 generally borne profusely in the preceding season. As 

 examples, we would name Vedder's pippins, and the 

 Sweet Bough, 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 different 

 seedlings, among which we have observed no voria 

 tjoninpQintofiegularitf,«arlin««eorproductiv»ii««e — 



we feel at liberty to infer that these stocks have hod 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, half of which 

 bore abundantly 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 bearing? It appears to ue, it can- 

 not be. 



There are some things in regard to the ripening of 

 the some variety on different stocks however, that we 

 are not prepared to explain. For instance, we have 

 three trees of the Transparent Giiigne 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 port of the 

 fruit garden is very variable — snioll beds of sand in 

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

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

 ther do we know whether the stocks ore all suckers of 

 the MorcUo,* or a port of Kentish* cherry. We moy 

 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 wcUknown however, that stockshave an infln- 

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

 come hardier when grafted on hardy stocks — not be- 

 cause the latter e-xerte any specific influence on the 

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

 held earlier in the season, ond the wood has 

 more time to mature. The same 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- 

 ing 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, ond the matter is settled too often we ap- 

 prehend, without further examination. But let us not 

 deceive ourselves. If the stock aflects 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 ior 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. The cans* therefore could not be in 

 the stocks. 



Again — we have three trees of the September pear 

 (Summer Bon Cretien?) growing on pear stocks; 

 and several branches of this fine veriety on a Spitzen- 

 burgh apple tree. About nine years ago, the latter 

 bore pears that were redder, and sourer, and more as- 

 trinscnt, than the fruit from the other trees; and we 

 fancied that the Spitienburgh had imparted some of its 

 qualities. The cause appeared very plain. Could it 

 be in any thing but the stockf Yes — they never bore 

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

 and aa sweet, and »» pleasant, as any that are produ- 

 ced by the other trees. The stock therefore coifld have 

 had no agency in the matter. 



We have two trees of the Summer Bell peat. For 

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



ing from green to yellow osit ripens,— while the oth 

 tree has produced reddish pcors, but so knotty, aeli 

 gent, ond urpoletablc, that we have coni-igned them 

 the hogs; ond year after year there was no improvemei 

 Well, what stronger proof con be wonted that t 

 stock affected the graft? — Not too fast. That tree h 

 begim to bear better fruit; and we have no doubt 

 its final recovery though the diseoee we can neith 

 name nor describe. 



The large White Currant is a delicious fruit; ai 

 we have had some dozen or fifteen bushels planted 

 a row, all from the same parcnt-voriety, but about oi 

 holf of them bear fruit very superior to the others- 

 much sweeter and more juicy or melting; and evei 

 visitor who has lasted them, concurs in this opinio, 

 And they are regularly so, every year alike. Wei 

 is not this a clear proof of the effects of the stock e 

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

 their own roots. f 



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Culture of the Peach Tree. 



It has been mentioned by writers on the culture of th 

 peach tree, that hot water poured round the trunk d 

 the surface of the ground, will destroy the worm. W 

 hove not yet tried it, but we intend to do so; and in th 

 mean time we would suggest to our readers, that i 

 may be done at any time during the winter or eprin 

 when there is no snow ond the soil is unfrozen. W 

 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 sxcellent for this tree. In oni 

 cose that has come to our knowledge, its pole leave 

 were changed into a dark green by this opplicotioi 

 round its roots; and though the efl'cct may in part havi 

 been caused by the destruction of the worm, it ha. 

 doubtless, acted also as a manure. Those who hovi 

 stove pipes to clean ond peach trees to cultivate, shoult 

 save the soot for this purpose. 



One of the most deplorable conditions that a peacl 

 tree can be placed in, is to stand in a meodow or grasf 

 ground which is annuoUy mowed. Sometimes we set 

 them in door-yards where the gross grows strong, bu 

 where neither pig?, nor sheep nor cattle, ore allowed t( 

 enter. A half starved tree however, is no ornoment ii 

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

 out proposing o remedy. Cultivate a circle rounc 

 eoch tree, of two or three feet in diameter; ond hoe ir 

 manure from the 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 laboi 

 by its beauty and productiveness. t 



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*Tlieie two lorte as sloeki, ar« well aduptei to tsst tliii 



A Tariff for Revenue made to subserve Pro- 

 tection. The importance of encotuaging the 

 Culture and Manufacture of Silk. 



Messrs. Editors. — The oseertion 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 meosure of 

 high tariff for the protection of every other broneh of 

 American industry. The falling off of the revenue 

 on imported cottons, os home production supplied their 

 plocc, must now be made up by increased imports on 

 other articles of foreign growth or production. In- 

 stood 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 os can be pro- 

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

 though luxuries, arc the luxuries of the most precious 

 of all classes in the United States — the independent, 

 weU 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 

 through Ei>glondj or directly with China. Neither 



