The Portland daily press., 1878-03-11
seed were more valuable, upon which to prop-

SGGu WcT6 uOE0 VdiuoUiCS upOu WHICH W UTOU-
agate the finer varieties of apples than stocks
grown from seeds OF common kinds of apples,
This opinion, whether originating in the pre-
tension of interested tree growers or not,
am unable TO say, has nevertheless been sed-
ulously fostered and encouraged BY parties
having or pretending to have, lal ge nurseries
composed Of trees grown on crab roots, and
by this means and with the distinct UNDER
standing aud agreement to furnish trees thus
propagated and which should be warranted
to be more hardy, long-lived, productive and,
as matter of course, more profitable than
any others, large sales OF these trees have
been made in this and other states and in the
adjoining provinces, at prices much above
the prevailing prices of the best standard
apple trees OF the most popular market varie-
ties. had an opportunity to converse with
a man during the past autumn who is quite
largely interested in growing apple trees for
sale in our state, and is at the present time
grating large numbers OF roots for planting
next spring in this state, who claims that
every tree he raises is grated on a crab stock
or root; that his trees are sure to be hardy.
long lived and productive; that by reason of
using this kind OF stocks, the trees are much
more valuable fer the orchardist than apv
trees whose roots are the off Spring of auv Of
our common apple seeds. He Furthermore
distinctly asserted that all New York apple
trees were grown on stocks originating from
common St eds taken from the pomace of the
cider mill but that his trees were grown from
wlldlcrab apple seeds which cost him $500
per bushei!
Being assured that these trees were pre-
terIed IN Northern Vermont and Canada, be-
fore all Others, and that no others were safe
to plant, have sought for further informa-
ton on the subject, aud will give the result
of my inquiry by quoting from letter from
perfectly reliable source. Says my cores
pondent: "The crab root, or stock, has no
advantages over good stocks from the seed of
the common apple. We do not fiDd our
trees dying from root-killng, except in places
when the ground is bare all winter. In such
places, craO roots are killed equally with the
apple. The trees are no harder on crab
roots, not so long lived, and except with
few sorts, not so healthy. On such stocks
the fruit of many delicate varieties is apt to
be of small size, and affected more or less in
favor. The "wild crab root" used by the
Dutsury man referred to by you, is simply the
Liberian stock grown from seed OF the crabs
so abuudart in this sfctlon. They are used
for chedpness. aud are pulled as of miracu-
l0us virtue, comforting hardness, fruitiulness
aud exemption fIOm all diseases aud all IN
sects. All OF which is fraud, known to
be such by those who practise it, and laughed
at as a shrewed game to gull fouls. l know
of many orchards planted with these trees
during the last eigh'een years. regard
them all as failures-the failures becoming
more and more conspicuous as the trees get
older. began my orchard II years ago with
crab-gr atted trees, but soon discarded them.
have now 7O0 trees In orchard on free stocks
which are in every respect as thrifty as any
growing in my native county of kennebec.
The crabs have persisted, or are rapidly per-
ishing. l am convinced that the Liberlan,
being naturally dwarf, does not furnish roots
enough Tor the tree as it acquires size. They
become scrubby, bear little, and that poor.
and fiually die at the age when tree on
apple roots is just coming into full bearing.
While the trees are small they grow well, and
/ encourage hopes that are not fu filed.
In speaking of the audable efforts of this
society TO warn the public against the fraud
ulent practices of tree agents from abroad,
| he further remarks: "The vast majority of
scrub farmers who never read al all, are
ones that make a market for the fraudulent
tree agent. They are in tact victims OF all
| sorts of frauds, and always will be. Every
| ignorance OF the people. The only remedy
| is to educate, educate, educate. They 1.-THE
ignorant class) will always furnish abundant
| prey to the human hawks, wolves and hyenas
| who live by plunderlng and swindling."
Whatever have said respecting the dis
couraglDg aspects of orcharding in conse-
| quence Of the disastrous failures Of Western
| trees in this State, will, trust, not cause
| any abatement of the present interest in
| apple-tree planting and culture. The Or
chardists OF Maine have great inducements
to persevere in their efforts to elevate the
standard of their profession. Light and
knowledge are taking the place OF the gross
ignorance of the past, and thoroughness in
all processes of cultivation and general treat
ment of fruit trees is succeeding in some
measure the abuse and neglect Of the Or
chards of former time. With the success at
tending the cultivation of the Russian and
other hardy trees, there is hardly spot in
our State where good apples may not be
raised, and every household be supplied to
some extent with homegrown fruits.