47 



among orchardists for so-called pedigree stock — stock of known 

 parentage. Many have tried the experiment of having their stock 

 grown to order by experienced nurserymen. Thus grown, it costs 

 slightly more than common stock, but has not always given satis- 

 faction. In fact there is a growing tendency among orchardists to 

 grow their own trees. 



It is not the policy of the writer to advocate this plan in all 

 cases. The operations of plant propagation are simple in the ex- 

 treme, though not all who attempt it on a commercial scale are suc- 

 cessful. In fact the determining factor of a successful grower of 

 nursery stock is a knowledge of plants and their needs. Almost 

 any orchardist who is capable of caring for an orchard and bringing 

 it into bearing should possess that knowledge. Of the tW'O accom- 

 plishments, the latter probably requires the greater skill, but the 

 orchardist who attempts to grow his own trees should not be sur- 

 prised if each specimen which subscribes to his ideal costs him con- 

 siderably more than would ordinary stock bought from a nursery. 

 The cost price of trees, however, as has already been pointed out, is 

 but a small part of the orchard cost, and if satisfaction is secured 

 by this means it may be overlooked. 



The writer supposes that those who may be interested in grow- 

 ing their own stock are familiar with the processes of root-grafting 

 and budding and the methods of securing seedling stocks. If not, 

 they are referred to the Nursery Book by Bailey, probably the best 

 book on the subject, or to Plant Propagation by Fuller, or to various 

 Experiment Station and Farmer's Bulletins on the subject. There 

 are, however, a few points which have been discussed pro and con 

 in horticultural papers for the past few years which might be briefly 

 touched upon at this time. 



One of these points is the relative merits of budded, whole root 

 grafted, and piece root grafted apples. Briefly the advantages 

 claimed for each are as follows : 



(1) Budded trees are upon stocks which are already growing 

 and firmly established in the soil. They therefore make a stronger 

 growth, they have a stronger, healthier root system and the union 

 of stock and bud is stronger than in the root-grafted trees. 



(2) On the other hand the devotees of the root-grafted method 

 claim cheapness because the operation can be performed indoors 

 during the winter instead of outdoors during the summer when labor 

 is higher, and point to the fact that salable trees can be produced one 

 year quicker. Those favoring the use of whole roots claim to se- 

 cure a stronger tree from the fact that it receives more nourishment 

 than the one grown from a piece root graft. Those favoring the 

 piece root system contend that the only object of the root is to start 

 the scion growing and keep it alive until it can send out roots for 

 itself and that the real object should be to induce the scion to send 

 out roots by giving it only a small stock in order that the tree may 

 essentially be on its ow^n roots. The fact that either system produces 

 good trees is sufficient argument that all are good. 



For extremely cold climates where roots are liable to winter 

 injury it is probably the best plan to have trees on their own roots 

 instead of some seedling stock root whose hardiness is not known. 

 In this case the piece root system seems to be best adapted. 



