78 



%k €mkmx'& lloirtltlj, 



observation. That it is correct in all its details I do 

 not feel assured ; but I have confidence in its chief 

 features. Time and intelligent observation can alone 

 test its truth. 



The remedies proposed by Dr. S. are yet untried, 

 so far as I am aware. The number of my own trees 

 will probably prevent an application of them soon, 

 except to a limited extent. An old and experi- 

 enced horticulturist of our State recommends that 

 iron shavings, scrap iron, and the scales and accu- 

 mulations from blacksmiths' shops, be dug in 

 around Pear trees, and also, that the bodies be re- 

 peatedly washed with a saturated solution of sul- 

 phate of iron, at a time when the sap is active, for 

 the purpose of destroying the fungi in the circu- 

 lation. 



It will be observed that I have not, in the course 

 of this article, dignified the attacks of locusts and 

 Scolytus pyri, injuries effected by mere mechanical 

 agencies with the name of "blight." 



In conclusion, I will say that the profession will 

 probably agree with me that the day has arrived 

 when a better knowledge should be had of blight 

 and its remedies. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GEAFT 

 ON THE STOCK. 



BY DR. J. STAYMAN, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. 



In reading your article in the December number of 

 the Gardener's Monthly^ on the "Influence of the 

 graft on the stock," we were very much interested 

 in your remarks and hope they may lead us to further 

 investigation, correct views and beneficial results. 



If the importance of this subject had been duly 

 considered, it would have received the attention it 

 merits, and a difference would have been pointed out 

 between the influence of stock and the influence of 

 the graft, as you have ably and clearly done. 



As regards the influence of stock on the grafts we 

 all admit, yet we may differ in its extent ; that it 

 dwarfs the tree and hastens its maturity we agree, 

 and that it effects the quality of the fruit under some 

 conditions we do not deny. But, that the stock 

 retards as well as hastens the maturity of the graft, 

 m.ay be questioned by some. 



However this may be, whenever the natural vigor 

 of the stock far exceeds the natural vigor of the 

 graft, it retards the maturity of the graft, as the 

 following illustrations will show: 



We grafted the Paradise on small sections of the 

 common apple roots seven years ago, they have 

 grown well but have never bloomed. 



We also budded the Paradise and Doucin on the 

 Domine apple with the same results, while the same 



aged trees have fruited by their side. We have also 

 budded the dwarf Almond [Amygdalis pumila) on 

 the Plum with similar result, and have seen like 

 effects with other species. We believe it as much 

 a principle as a less vigorous stock will produce the 

 opposite effect. 



This may give a solution to many questions asked, 

 but not very satisfactory answered, as the follo\^ing. 

 Why do some trees of the same variety grow with 

 more or less vigor ? Why do they bear much sooner 

 and better? Why are they of better quality ? Many 

 of us remember the particular tree on the gentle 

 slope near by the rill, crooked and half blown over, 

 where we went in our youth to gather the best 

 Ramho or some other favorite apple. 



Mr. WilHam Thompson in his treatise on the 

 grape refers to another influence ; he says, "those 

 who have paid most attention to the subject, have 

 come to the conclusion that many of the highest 

 flavored of our grapes, which are at the same time 

 the most delicate and difiicult to grow with success 

 on their own roots, will one day be grown with per- 

 fect ease, when we have discovered the proper stocks 

 for them; a late ripening variety will be got to ripen 

 earlier when grafted on earlier stocks." Field in his 

 Pear culture, refers to the same influence. This is 

 most certainly an error ; how any scientific and ob- 

 serving person can come to such conclusions appears 

 strange, when every day's experience proves its 

 fallacy. The stock may hasten or retard the ma- 

 turity of the tree^ but not the fruit. If this theory 

 is true, we can convert a winter fruit to a sum- 

 mer one. 



With these hasty remarks upon the influence of the 

 stocky we shall now endeavor to make a few remarks 

 on the influence of the graft. 



Here we find that the graft increases or retards 

 the growth of the stock depending upon its vigor. 

 For instance, if we graft a very vigorous variety on 

 a dwarf stock it increases the stock's natural growth^ 

 but if we graft a very dwarf variety on a vigorous 

 stock it retards the stock's natural growth. 



It we graft on a short section of root or stock of 

 the same vigor and species, the graft controls the" 

 tendency and conformation of the root or stock, as 

 may be seen in grafting the Milam apple, which 

 roots deep and has a tendency to tucker, while the 

 English Golden Russet has a tendency to spread its 

 roots and not sucker. If we graft on the top of well 

 established trees the influence is more gradual and 

 reciprocal, as may be seen in top grafting seedlings 

 with Yellow Bellflower and Early Harvest. 



If we graft a congenial Pear on a Quince stock the 

 vigor of the Quince will be in proportion to the 



