86 THE FLORIST AND 
grafted Eliododendrons, virtually gives up his case ■^'hen lie contends that 
the scion roots so quickly into the ground, provided the graft is low enough 
that it soon acquires an independent existence. When that happens, the 
plant is no longer grafted, hut gets upon its own roots. 
It is alleged that Sikkim Rhododendrons grafted on pontieum immediately 
form strong shoots, while the seedlings of the same species on their own 
roots remain weak. No doubt such is the fact. But the question at issue 
is not whether plants -will " take," but whether they will " stand," to use the 
language of gardening, and if they do, whether they will retain their vigor when 
old. It may indeed be asked, and very fairly, whether that would be any 
advantage in gardening. Perhaps not; perhaps it is more desirable to have a 
somewhat stunted plant which flowers profusely, rather than a vigorous plant 
with more copious foliage. Such a case would be parallel with that of the 
Peach and its Plum stock. But we do not understand that to be the point under 
discussion, any more than whether it is possible for the nurseryman to sup- 
ply his customers if he is to trust to so slow a process as layering. 
Upon the whole, it seems to be a safe conclusion that Rhododendrons are 
like other plants ; that where suitable stocks can be found, there is no good 
reason why they should not be grafted; and that when stocks are unsuitable, 
the same bad consequences attend the operation as in other cases. Grafted 
plants may be as good or better for garden purposes than any others, or 
they. may be much worse; all depends upon the stock. 
ON THE PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES DURING THE FIRST YEAR 
AFTER PLANTING. 
No rule is without its exception ; and the writer of an article on this 
subject in a late number of the "Revue Horticok" is in my opinion wrong, 
when he lays it down as a general rule that every tree which has been trans- 
planted ought to be cut down to the height of a foot, or a little more above 
the level of the soil. Such treatment is very good in some cases but not in 
others. It seems to me to be very good in two cases, viz : — 
1. When the trees, after being taken from a nursery, have been long 
exposed for sale ; for then their roots are tired, somewhat dried, and the 
lateral branches have often suffered by carriage from place to place. 
2. When the plants that leave the nursery as pyramids have been deprived 
of their lower lateral members, which are indispensable to the formation of 
a regular pyramid. 
