The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-03
influence of the Stock upon the
Graft.

| L Will now Name SeFcIdl Vi many
/ cases which might be adduced, where
the evidence on this point is direct,
positive and unmistakable. And
here let me remark that this evidence
was not given to prove any theory,
but simply as facts, and if all or
chardists will notice and testify, we
shall soon have overwhelming evil
! dence.
S. Fuller, of Sharon, states that a
tree on his place, bearing very sour
fruit, was grated with Porter scions
from a neighboring tree; and almost
every one, on eating the fruit, re-
marked at once how much more acid
these Porters were than others. They
were so sour that the tree was cut
down.
A fruit grower in Walpole asserts
that he has often grated Porters on
sour ana sweet apple trees, and inva-
riably found the flavor OF the fruit
affected by the different trees.
Joseph Bailey, of Dedham, says
he has known this for years and nev-
er thinks OF grating a Porter on a
sour apple tree, but that if he wants a
pleasant Porter he gratis upon a
sweet variety. He says the same is
true OF Baldwins.
ID. Mowry, Chairman of the
Fruit Committee of the Franklin
County Agricultural Society, in his
report for 1871, says; II find that
fruit, grated on strong, rapidly
growing stock, entirely different
from the scion, loses some Of its orig
inal flavor, or, speaking more con-
cisely, it's flavor is modified" He
then speaks of choosing the modifi-
ers in order TO improve our fruits.
Washburn Weston, of Winthrop,
successful fruit grower and very
close observer, grated Porter into
a tree bearing large but very sour
fruit. The result is an apple so sour
that the Fruit Committee Of the
Marshfeld Agricultural Society, af-
ter pronouncing them remarkably
fine Porters, on tasting them at Mr..
Weston's request, decided they were
not Porters, being too acid, with a
different flavor. They are called the
Cooks Favorite. Other kinds of ap.
pies are affected in the same way.
S. i. Pullen, of Norwood, testifies
that he had tree bearing small but
very sweet apples--so sweet that the
children called them sugar plums--
but so small as to be worthless. In
to this he grated the Orange Swee
and found the fruit much sweetel
than other Orange Sweets. The diff
ference was unquestionable.
The same gentleman relates anoth
er remarkable case. Several year,
since he brought some scions from &
Sweet Pumpkin Russell which had
fruited several years on his place il
Maine. A part of these scions he
grated into a neighbours tree, and
the remainder into a very thrifty
Roxbury Russell on his own land
When they truited, his neighbor';
tree bore Sweet Pumpkin Russets
but his own bore apples the same il
size, form and color, but as sour as
the Roxbury Russet.
Another similar case is given by
Mr.. Weston, to whom I have before
referred. Several years since he was
acting as gardener for DIR. Ira War
rem, on the place he now owns il
Winthrop. The Doctor, wishing to
have some OF the fruit which he
knew in his boyhood, growing on hil
own place, brought some HightoI
Sweeting scions from Marshfield, anC
requested Mr.. Weston to graft then
into Red Astrachan, as he had more
OF that variety than he needed. Wher
the graft fruited, to the surprise O
all, it bore red apple with the torn
and size OF the Red Astrachan, bu
very sweet, and having the peculiar
flavor OF the Hightop Sweet. Ant
here let me remark that scions taker
from that tree and grated into Other
trees bear the same kind of fruit
thus showing that grating has pro
duced new variety, and one which
l think will be very desirable. Now
this fact is right in our midst and Cal
be substantiated by any amount o
evidence, and the fruit will speak to-
itself in its season. So marked is thi:
case that the Fruit Committee of the
Marshtield Agricultural Society, las
autumn did not hesitate to call the
apples Red Astrachans, and were
convinced of their mistake only wher
they tasted the fruit and found il
sweet like the Hightop. That there
could be no mistake about the scions
ic nuidnni from tho fact there Is M