By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. 203 



preceding years : and these consequently extend themselves 

 very widely, comparatively with the bulk of the stock and 

 large branches. 



When a stock of the same species with the graft or bud, 

 but of a variety far less changed by cultivation, is employed, 

 its effects are very nearly allied to those produced by a 

 stock of another species, or genus: the graft, generally, 

 overgrows its stock ; but the form and durability of the tree 

 are generally less affected, than by a stock of a different spe- 

 cies or genus. 



Many gardeners entertain an opinion, that the stock 

 communicates a portion of its own power to bear cold, with- 

 out injury to the species, or variety, of fruit, which is grafted 

 upon it : but I have ample reason to believe, that this opi- 

 nion is wholly erroneous : and this kind of hardiness in the 

 root alone can never be a quality of any value in a stock ; 

 for the branches of every species of tree are much more 

 easily destroyed by frost, than its roots. Many also believe, 

 that a Peach tree, when grafted upon its native stock, very 

 soon perishes ; but my experience does not further support 

 this conclusion, than that it proves seedling Peach trees, 

 when growing in a very rich soil, to be greatly injured, and 

 often killed, by the excessive use of the pruning knife upon 

 their branches, when those are confined to too narrow limits. 

 The stock, in this instance, can, I conceive, only act injuri- 

 ously by supplying more nutriment than can be expended ; 

 for the root which nature gives to each seedling plant must 

 be well, if not best, calculated to support it ; and the chief 

 general conclusions which my experience has enabled me 

 safely to draw, are, that a stock of a species, or genus, 



