153 



GRAFT AGE. 



Z46. Budding 



and grafting 

 on ptece-roots. 



The whole question, therefore, is one of comparative 

 length and strength of roots (or stocks). A whole-rooted 

 tree should be stronger and have 

 a more symmetrical root system, 

 at a given age, than a piece- 

 rooted tree. Yet there have been 

 frauds committed in 

 the name of whole- 

 rooted trees. As a 

 matter of fact, there 

 can be no perfectly 

 whole-rooted trees 

 I unless the bud or 

 cion is set upon 

 a seedling stock 

 which stands in its 

 original position, for some of the main 

 root axis is broken off in the process 

 of digging. Yet, if stock is well dug, 

 this shortening-in of the tip of the root is so 

 slight as to be practically of no account. 



If the pieces of roots are very short in the 

 making of root-grafts, the graft has too little 

 power to enable it to make a strong growth 

 the first year. It is a very common practice 

 to cut off the entire top of the root-grafted 

 tree at the end of the first year, in order to 

 get a strong and straight body the following 

 year. This practice is perfectly justifiabl e 

 only that the grower counts the age of his 

 tree from the date of the cut-back, and not 

 from the date of the grafting. Root- 

 grafted trees are very likely to 

 make such a short growth the 

 first season that if the terminal 

 bud should be winter-killed, the 

 tree will branch too low, or if a ^■j. Root-graft, headed back 



