The Opelousas courier., 1891-06-20
TREES ON THEIR OWN ROOTS.

Quite recently some of our English
cousins claimed to have discovered that
all kinds of fruit and ornamental trees
are far letter and more valuable on their
own roots than when worked on seeding
OF other stocks, as generally practiced in
propagating such trees in nurseries. The
usual claim that sit is more natural" is
advanced in support of their theory, but
unfortunately the theorists overlook
the fact that tree culture is an art, and
that we employ and use nature as a foun-
dalton upon which to build, following
her only so far as she may assist and di-
rect us In our work. Because nature
does not transplant, bud, graft and propa-
gate trees by cuttings and other artificial
methods it does not follow that we must
not do so, any more than we must net
wear clothes because mother nature fails
to provide them ready made for our use.
We make mistakes in the propagation OF
trees and shrubs while budding and
grating, not only in the selection OF
proper stocks, but also in setting the
buds and cions either too high or too
low. and if failures follow they are not
TO be taken as an evidence of the fallacy
of the methods emnloyed. but the want
of practi cal knowledge and experlehceln
the operator.
The system of root grating pears ane.
apples so long practiced by our nursery
men eventually results in just the form
of trees our English cousins claim to be
the most perfect, for the pieces OF roots
used in this mode of propagation rarely
serve more than a temporary purpose IN
giving the plant a start in life, and, wher
set out in the nursery, or planted in the
orchard, new roots soon push out from
the stem above the point of junction be-
tween stalk and cion, and henceforward
/ the tree draws a part or all nutrients from
| the soil through it's own roots. Pears
when budded on ounce stalks and trans
| planted to the orchard are usually set
deep enough to cover the stalk and per-
NIT the production of roots from the pear
wood above it. The apple and pear trees
in the older orchards of this country were
almost invariably grated, if grated al
all, Oh sCIoHS StoSAS SCtCAot "N>
! ground, either on the main stem or
branches of large trees, and that this
| mode of propagating the different va
rieties then in cultivation was a success
few persons will attempt to deny, for
MANY of these old trees after withstand
ing the assaults of enemies for a century
are yet bearing fruit in greater or less
abundance. This old mode of grating
and budding on large and strong stalks
is still practiced with many kinds of both
fruit and ornamental trees, and for the
very good reason it is the best for GER
tain varieties, which are either of slow
growth or produce weak and slender
stems when root grated. Allforms and
modes of propagation are useful in theil
way, and no one is equally we'll adapted
to the multiplication of all kinds OF
plants, and it would be worse than folly
to attempt to discard budding and graft
ing even with varieties that are readily
propagated by cuttings.
Whatever may be the facts in regard t.
the growth, cultivation and longevity a
fruit and ornamental trees in Great Bit
ain, we certainly have no occasion in this
country to look upon budded and grated
trees generally as inferior to those on theil
own roots.-Americon 4grieuZurist.