202 



AlIERICAX IIOJIE GARDEN. 

 Fig, S5. 



a. A pair of root stocks, pieces of root from mature trees. 



b. A pair of root stocks, pieces of the tap-root of one or tivo-year-old seedlings. 



should never be resorted to ; such stocks generally make only 

 a one-sided growth of root, and, as in the case of sucker stocks, 

 leave the tree to the mercy of the wind. It requires symmet- 

 rical roots to sustain a tree in erect and healthful growth (see 

 Fig. 89 b, page 20-1). Neither offshoot, nor sucker, nor root 

 stock will fm-nish these, unless, possiUy, the tap-root of a 

 seedling cut into lengths, which, perha]3s, may be expected to 

 retain throughout its growth the natm-al habit of its seedling 

 form (Fig. 85 &). 



ROOT SUCKERS. 

 Fig. S6. 



Eunoer roots and their suciiers, with feeble hair -like rootlets. 



Root suckers are often used for stocks. These differ from 

 offshoots or stem suckers in that they are thrown up from pe- 

 culiar runner-roots, which do not supply food to the tree, but 

 rather abstract it to support the young ]jrood they put forth. 

 This habit of throwing up suckers is transmitted to the suck- 

 er, and W'hen it is used as a stock the tree becomes a nuisance, 

 not only generally failing to firm sufficient root to support it- 

 self, but, instead of this, spreading around it a young forest of 



