, 1858-08-27
AgricuIiQte.


A correspondent in Illinois Of Eiaery's
Journal of AgrieHitUre, who seems to have
had ample experience, writes on this subject
as follows to that journal;
In your last number, lipd the subject OF
root grating refer ed TO, as rejecting some
what on the vitality, longevity and Produc-
tiyeness Of the Apple family. Thesubjecthas
for many years engagcdm attention, for feel
a deep interest in the matter, as have about
seventy acres of orchard out, One-h half Of
which are root gratis. The subject is ono, !
believe, which concerns all fruit growers. !
am willing to give NY observations to the
public, and wish to hear from others also.
i am well aware that upon this subject great
diversity of opinion exists, and that from va
rious causes, such as climate, soil, location,
management and misnaming Of fruit, &C., all
Of which have tendency to vary opinion
before the public. The past three winters
except the last have taught lesson long to
be rcmembered- Gdmonition which old
Jack Frost delivered.to Pomona tc point
out certain dangers which necessarily should
bo noticed. We have evidence Of the un-
common severity Of these winters in the
destruction Of fruit trees Of most all kinds,
and many kinds of forest trees; hence, We
may conclude, if fruit trees had any weak
PAGES, this cold would find them out. II
has pointed out to my satisfaction, many
varieties of the Apple which should never
have been root grated. Now, would
mention two classcs of Apples which would
not root graft at all the first would include
all small feeble growers, preivrring to put
them ON stronger stock in order to get a
quicker and larger growth, and fruit sooner.
would include in this class such trees or
varieties as the Summer Rose, Canada Red,
Carolina Red June, Summer Paradise, Early
Harvest. Pcck's Pleasant, and others.
The other class would not root graf,
for the reason that they arc too tender 10
stand our soil mud climate by growing up
from the ground. think there is not half
the danger Of frost three feet from the
ground that there is on the first six inches
or foot. Five-sixths Of the trees lost on
my ground were killed at this point. Out Of
two hundred Eastern trees set in my ground
nearly ten years ago, not fifty are now
living, and most Of them are on the decay I;
the balance have been an thing but fruitful.
Now this does not discourage me any; il
snly admonishes me to lot foreign trees alone
and plant trees of our soil and climate
Again, most Of these, unfortunately, were Of
this class, which never should be root graft
edhere. OF this class, mention q few only
-Hubbardston, Nonesuch, Rhode Island
Grecuing, Baldwin, Esopus Spiizcnburg,
Milan, English Russet Hercfordshire Pear;
main, and others. cutscions from many Of
my Eastern trees the first year Of setting,
and worked small trees two feet high only |;
these havenow been in bearing many Of them
four years, but the parent tree had not
borne an apple. The only fault which can
discover in root grating is, the abuse of the
theory, and not the theory. Itself Our very
changeable climate and fertile soil, | fear, will
never prove congepial to some few Eastern
varieties. Our soil is such as effects not
only rapid, but late growth, which disquali
.fcs these tender kinds for enduring tho SC,
we're cold which does not como in the fall by
gradual increase, but often bolts in with the
mercury down ITO zero fora beginningswithour
black soil inviting down powerful sunshine
to dry aud parch the bark, which old Jack
Frost loosened the night before. Thus It is
common to see hundreds Of small and large
trees, some seasons, destroyed before winter
fairly commences. seedlings are often killed
in this manner also.
Now, would mention q class Of trees