178 



The Garden Magazine, May, 1922 



time of dormancy and rest for Tulip bulbs that remain in 

 soil. 



Neither do bulbs remain dormant when stored "dry" in the 

 cellar. They do not form roots as they would if they were in 

 the ground, but they swell somewhat and the flowers are formed 

 within them. If some of the bulbs bought for planting in 

 autumn are cut open, the flowers will be found to be well formed 

 within. 



During the summer, the formation of flowers goes on to a 

 remarkable degree whether the bulb is stored dry or is in the 

 ground. Summer is indeed a critical period in the formation 

 of flowers that are to open in the air during the following spring. 

 Bulbs in storage are forced to make this development under con- 

 ditions that are unnatural or at least different from those which 

 bulbs left in the ground experience; but the general practice 

 of storing bulbs in a cool, dark place during summer undoubtedly 

 in some degree meets their natural needs during this critical time. 



Examination of bulbs at planting time in autumn shows that 

 blindness, so noticeable in the following spring, is already in 

 evidence in the dead flowers that are present within the bulb. 

 In the first appearance of blindness (as is plainly evident in an 

 afflicted buib cut lengthwise) the flowers are well formed as to 

 size, but a zone of dead or dying tissue is visible at the base of 

 the flower. Soon the entire flower is a dead and shrivelled mass. 

 If the blasting occurs earlier or becomes more extended, one or 

 more of the uppermost stem leaves are included in the dead por- 

 tion. The rest of the bulb may be quite sound, but invariably it 

 is less solid than one that exhibits no blasting. The scales are 

 often more soft, less juicy, and less compact, especially in com- 

 parison with bulbs that have lived in the soil during summer. 



Blasting or blindness of this type is obviously due to un- 

 favorable conditions arising during storage and transportation. 

 When many bulbs of a shipment come blind, as sometimes 

 occurs, the cause may be over-heating for a time. Bulbs grow- 

 ing in the ground develop roots during summer and early 

 autumn and can obtain water in a way which stored bulbs can 

 not do, and hence excessive dryness may be a factor in causing 



blindness as is suggested by the somewhat shrivelled appearance 

 of bulbs whose flowers have blasted during storage. 



It seems certain that blindness of the sort here described may 

 be largely avoided if bulbs be planted early in summer instead 

 of in autumn. In making replantings this can readily be done. 

 Bulbs can be dug at the end of their bloom and growth, the 

 daughter bulbs can be sorted and replanted in groups according 

 to size. Shallow rooted annual plants can be grown over them 

 during summer and in autumn shallow tillage with dressing of 

 manure will prepare the bed for winter. 



Commercial bulbs that are purchased in quantity for autumn 

 planting can be examined for blindness. Select a few bulbs 

 at random and cut them open lengthwise. If blasting is found 

 to be frequent, the lot should be rejected for use, at least in 

 special display beds. If no blasting is found, planting can be 

 done with the assurance that a fine exhibition of bloom in the 

 spring is not to be marred by blasting that developed during 

 the previous summer. 



Varieties seem to differ widely in regard to the development 

 of blasting, even when kept under identical conditions of storage. 

 Some varieties (White Jewel, Cramoise Brilliant, and La Trium- 

 phante) also combine with blindness certain sorts of abnormal 

 and premature growth of the daughter bulbs which make them 

 undesirable for propagation, at least in regions about New York 

 City. The early blooming sorts have, in the experience of the 

 New York Botanical Garden, blasted more than the late bloom- 

 ing varieties, and for this reason Darwin Tulips are now being 

 used almost entirely in the garden for the display plantings. 



It would seem that blindness might well develop after bulbs 

 have been planted in autumn through an excessive development 

 of the flower stem during periods of warm weather followed by 

 cold, but such conditions have not produced blasting to any 

 extent. Blindness has been found to occur before planting in 

 autumn and to be due to unfavorable conditions which the 

 bulbs have previously encountered. 



A very practical lesson to be learned from all this is that the 

 earlier the planting for next year's bloom is done the better. 



GRAFTING ON THE WILD CHERRY 



ARCHIBALD RUTLEDGE 



How a Useless Member of the Plant World Was Converted Into an Effective Citizen of the Orchard 



IOR a good many years I had been having trouble with 

 young Cherry trees that were grafted on ordinary tame 

 stock. The grafts would thrive for a year or two; then 

 they would die. Some would even bear rather gen- 

 erously; but then the backset would begin. On the principle 

 that a wild strain is usually more vigorous than a tame one, in 

 plant as well as in animal life, I went out literally into "the 

 highways and hedges" and selected a few stocky, well-rooted 

 wild saplings. These were about three feet high and perhaps 

 half an inch in diameter six inches above the ground. These 

 I set in a nursery-row that was favorable to quick rooting and 

 fast growing. 



Early one March I grafted these wild seedlings. Each one 

 was treated differently. One I cut off a foot above the ground, 

 and at that point inserted a strong scion from a Governor Wood, 

 using the cleft-graft system. A second I cut off only a few 

 inches above the ground and cleft-grafted it with a Tartarian. 

 The third (which had been pruned into a typical fruit-tree of 

 vase-shape design) was top-grafted with Yellow Spanish. For 



this grafting, a little wax, some strips of cheesecloth, and adhesive 

 tape were used. The scions were secured from friends who 

 had trees of known high qualities. 



All the little trees so grafted throve well the first season, and 

 from the nursery-row were transplanted to their permanent situ- 

 ations. They have developed in most gratifying fashion, and so 

 far have shown not the slightest tendency to decline. They ap- 

 pear to have a native vigor that augurs well for the theory that 

 wild roots mean strong trees. Two of these trees are now bear- 

 ing; and the fruit is as good as that of the parents of the scions. 

 Apparently, therefore, this discovery is a valuable one; and it is 

 of a kind that the average man can use without difficulty. 



I have called it a discovery; but perhaps it is known by some 

 people. Lately I mentioned it to an old orchardist, and he said 

 that he had heard of it. A mountaineer likewise confirmed my 

 opinion, declaring that he would never graft on any Cherry but 

 a wild one, as he had had better success with that kind. Perhaps 

 the matter is open to valid objections; but at present it appears 

 to me altogether worthwhile. 



