Che National IRurscryman. 
Vol. XXIII. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., FEBRUARY, 1915. 
No. 2. 
l\ W. Watson 
AMERICAN VS. FOREIGN GROWN. 
APPLE SEEDLINGS FOR BUDDING AND 
GRAFTING PURPOSES. 
Read before the Western Association of Nurserymen 
By F. W. Watson, Topeka, Kansas. 
N O matter what subject we may discuss here we are 
all probably more or less biased by a personal in¬ 
terest. When we were put upon the program to 
say something about American versus Foreign grown Ap¬ 
ple Seedlings, we do not believe it was expected we would 
say very much in favor of the foreign grown stocks. 
We grow a great many apple seedlings and do not im¬ 
port, or deal in foreign stocks, so you will have to pardon 
us if we should overlook some of the good points of im¬ 
ported seedlings. 
In treating the subject of American versus Foreign 
Grown Stocks, we will speak of the ideal American seed¬ 
ling,the perfect seedling, by this we mean the seedling 
grown and handled under the most favored circum¬ 
stances. 
We believe that the American grown No. 1 straight 
i\)ot apple seedlings are better in every way for grafting 
than the foreign grown seedlings. The American stocks 
have the proper shape—long even roots — graded to a 
specific standard. Not the short and long uneven grade 
that the foreigner sends us. 
We believe all American stocks, properly grown and 
handled, are superior to foreign stocks. We say properly 
grown and handled, we cannot and do not try to defend 
the stocks grown on contract where there is no personal 
interest, excepting the price to be received. Some stocks 
are grown on contract bv men who are crowded down to 
Starvation prices, and have neither the means to spray 
their crops, nor a place to grade their stocks. Why some 
of these small growers grade their seedlings in a cave 
20x30 feet, with a big stove, often red hot, in the middle 
of it- — this does not tend to conserve the vitality ot the 
stocks. 
It costs money to properly grow apple seedlings. You 
cannot expect a man who grows on contract to show any 
interest, further than to try to obtain the shapes that go 
into the different grades. His name does not go to the 
trade with the shipment—but the credit for healthy vig¬ 
orous stocks (if he should have any) is given to the 
dealer who delivers the stocks to the trade—the trade be¬ 
lieving the dealer to be the grower. 
But we are getting off our subject—we know of no 
better way to get at the subject than to answer some of 
the objections to the American grown stocks that have 
been advanced by those who favor the foreign stocks. 
One person says “We find this year the two year apple 
tiees that we have been digging grown from grafts put 
upon American stocks have a great many root knots, 
while the two year trees budded upon French stocks are 
almost free of knots.” 
True—But if the American stocks had been budded, 
and the French stocks grafted, the budded trees would be 
free from knots just the same. It is not the stock but the 
mode of propagating that develops the knots. But the 
majority of the foreign stocks come in so late that they 
are mainly used for budding purposes, and this serves to 
deceive some into the belief that the foreign stocks are 
not subject to knots. 
Another firm reports that the foreign stocks can be 
bought cheaper than the American grown—this is not 
true. The American stocks are sold for less money than 
the imported stocks plus duty and besides they are better 
graded stocks. Our American 3-16 and all up straight 
root grade, averaging over 50 per cent. '4 inch, is not 
duplicated in foreign stocks, it stands alone the best 
grafting stock in the market. Our Vr inch and up 
branched grade is as heavy and as well branched as the 
foreign 7 to 12 m. m. grade and sells for from $2.00 to 
.$4.00 less per M. The imported 5 to 7 m. m. grade is no 
heavier and not as good a shape ns our regular No. 2. 
The American apple seedling has proven itself in the 
field, capable of producing as fine a tree as it is possible 
