The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-03-20
Young Apple Trees.

Young apple Trees.
A correspondent Of the Country Gentle
man says: Having for twelve years past
been much interested in fruit culture, and
also claiming to be pretty close observer,
perhaps can say something worthy of
perusal. While residing in Southern Hi
nois, eight years (from 1856 to 1864, and
two years at St. Joseph, Mich, 1 was much
Interested in the growth and frutfulness of
many orchards of young apple trees of
choice varieties which have been planted in
those localities during the last ten years.
think can safely say that nineteen
twentieths Of the young apple trees planted
there were root-grafted trees, as nursery
men call them, and they are, to be sure,
what they term them. The root so called
is a very small root or piece of root, not
generally more than three inches in length,
Eurserymen may use more root now than
formerly, but most of the trees 1 speak of
were little better than trees would be If
grown from cuttings, the small piece of
root only keeping the graft alive until the
cutting or scion begins to grow, which
makes new roots of itself. Being in reali-
ty only cuttings, they are deficient in the
strong roots which apple trees have that
are budded or grated on the Seeding
stock above ground, and which are so ne
oessary to make ctrong, lasting and fruit
full trees.
Within one mile of where 1 now write
are eight apple orchards. Three of these
orchards are old trees, top grated the
others are young orchards of root-grafted
trees from ten to fifteen years old. The
soil of all the above is quite similar, being
a sandy, gravelly loan, with porous sub
soil Now mark This season all, or near
ly all, the top-grafted trees have borne a
fair crop. while not one in dozen of the
Toot-grafted trees have borne peck. This
contrast is not confined to this locality
alone, but from other places I hear SINH
lar complaints. Wherever my observa-
tions have been extended in this vicinity,
the same difference in the trees has been
noted. ] made trip to Northern Penn.
sylvania and observed the same result there
1 get reports from Southern Illinois of a
similar import. Many Of the root-grafts
in Illinois make late growth in the fall, and
remember in the autumn of 1868, that a
sudden cold snap caused the bark near the
ground, on a great number of those trees
to split and burst loose from the trunk Ii
some cases the bark was loosened entirely
around the tree, so that il died next sum.
mer. know one man in Southern Ili
nois who planted 500 apple trees min,
years ago now only 60 are living. He
also planted 500 more, same time as tn,
others. and they received same treatment
but Eve have died. The first were root
grated the others On the stock. Seeding
or trees, either top or stock grated or bud
ed, seem to be much more fruitful
and longer lived. l am aware .bat nurse
rymen will not thank me for what I bav
written, for they have tens of thousands @
those root-grafted trees for sale. Howev
err, that does not alter the facts, and
think it no more than just chat farmers an
tree planters should have their eyes ope lei
on the subject, for il is one of great impor
lance to everybody.
The old style of trees that were plante
before the advent of root-grafling. are most
ly still in bearing. When they are gone
1 fear that apples viii be scarce, unles
there is change in the mode Of propaga
ing. For my own part, would soone
pay S25 per 100 for trees grated six inch
es or more above ground than to pay 81
for root gratis. although tle latter ma
look as well 10 tie eye in the nursery -
Last spring purchased 100 root gratis,
could get no other kind Of the sorts
wanted, aud as they were trimmed up "a
and slim, cut them back to stunps abo
] inches high. TO make them branch o
near tLa ground aud make low heads.