The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-26
influence of the Stock upon the
Graft,

long neglected theme, would, | think,
lead to an essential improvement in
the quality of fruit That the origi-
nal apple and pear have been wonder
fully improved, will be admitted
but are we prepared to say that they
NAV not be still further improved q?
Culture, grating and it's kindred OPP
erations, and ross,fertilization have
all assisted in producing this grand
result. The precise influence Of each
of these causes may not be so easily
determined. Culture undoubtedly
increases the size and quality of nat
ural fruit, without essentially chang
ing its peculiar characteristics. Cross
fertilization has produced new and
improved varieties. Grating has eX-
tended these varieties, but it is gen.
orally believed, has not changed them.
In accordance with this opinion J. J.
Thomas in 1856, said that grating
gave us perfectly umGltered the sort
selected. President Clarkt OF the
Massachusetts Agricultural College,
in a report says it is doubtful whether
the character of the fruit of the stock
ever affects the fruit of the graft, and
that experiments have produced no
convincing results. On this suppose
ton nurserymen and orchardists have
proceeded, sowing seeds indiscrimi-
nately, and grating without any re.
gard to the effect which the stock
may produce on the fruit. Now |
believe this statement of Mr.. Thorn
as is an error, which facts will refute.
1t arose from the apparent result of
ordinary grating, and l think will be
abandoned on more careful exami-
nation. Suppose we graft Russet
scions into four different bearing trees,
and lind all bear Russets we natur-
ally say with Mr.. Thomas, that graft
ing gives us perfectly unchanged the
sort selected, or that the character of
the fruit OF the stock does not effect
the fruit OF the graft. But critical
examination of the truit OF these four
Russell trees discovers a marked diff
ference. They differ in size, flavor,
texture, and in keeping qualities, We:
they all grow on similar soil, with
the same culture, and were grated
with similar scions. Whence the
difference in the fruit? Further ex
animation of the grated trees, dis
closes that the first was grated on a
Baldwin, the second on a Red Astra-
chan, the third on a Summer Sweet.
ing, and the fourth on a Grab. We
are familiar with the fruit these
trees have born, and, on critical
examination of the fruit, find that
each stock has marked its fruit with
| it's peculiar characteristics. Now i
this is a fact the statement that
"gratting gives us perfectly a0'dtteTet
the sort selected" is an error. 1t il
a conclusion drawn without consult
ing all the facts.
The argument here rests on the
statement that there will be differ
ence in the trui. trees thus grated
and here is exactly where the matter
must be settled. If such difference
cannot be demonstrated we give VI
i the controversy. But before present
ing the facts to prove it, let us con.
slider the mai ure of the grating. v {
all know something of the wonder.
tul power of the scion to change the
character of the wood, the form OF
the leaf, and the character of the
fruit which the grated stock is to
bear. We know that the same stock
will bear several varieties Of fruit.
For instance, on the Plum we may
graft the Apricot; on the Apricot
the Peach; and on the Peach the
Almond. Thus we have four kinds
of wood, leaves and fruit on the
same stock, all nourished by CON-
mon fluid and growing under the.
same influences. Now the most sci
entific man in the world, with all
knowledge of vegetable chemistry
and physiology, cannot tell why or
how each of these kinds OF wood,
growing in the same stock, will draw
from the same source precisely what
is required to form its peculiar kind
OF fruit. He can only say that it is
by an Inherent 2ooaoer in the wood.
God made it so. That is the limit of
his knowledge in that direction. But
we can notice the operations of that
inherent power and may obtain light
on the subject, and the question which
must interest us is: Can we grow
as good plums, apricots, peaches and
almonds on one stock as we can on
seyeral2 We often graft several