Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-23
Apple Tree Propagation.

| What is the true and reliable system
\ for the propa cation of the apple tree
| fer the west? To this question we Will
say the root graft method is the only
safe and reliable way Of starting the
apple for good hardy tree in Iowa and
other states OF the west. This has been
proven by more than fifty years of ex-
perience by the best horticulturists OF
our state. There are hundreds of them
| in our state who from practical expert
ence and observation, have come to this
conclusion; and have at different times
| In our state horticultural societies
warned our citizens against buying and
setting apple trees that are claimed to
| be started OH whole roots by budding or
crown grating.
Therefore, to all who desire to plant
apple trees in the future, we will say,
beware of parties who are canvassing
our country claiming to sell whole root
or budded apple trees, telling us that
the piece root graft produces black
heart of the tree, and also makes a tree
with very poor root. When such par
ties call on us to sell us trees and tell
us this, we may know they are down
right humbug, ignoramus and fraud.
No reliable nursery of the west will
send out agents with instructions to tell
their customers that the budded or
crown grated apple trees on whole
root is the only way to get hardy,
long-lifed tree. When such parties
come to us with such stories we say
again. beware. 1t has been proven by
years of experience in Iowa and other
western states that the apple is best
started on short root with a long
cion. This method makes our trees on
their own roots; for fine set Of roots
come from the graft as well as the root
part Also the union of the root and
graft Is so perfect we can hardly see
where the connection Is made. even at
one year old, there being no dead or dis
eased wood whatever in this part of the
tree.
Grating is done during the winter in
warm grating rooms, in connection
with good cellars for storing. The seed
ling roots are usually cut into two piec-
es, three inches in length: the cions six
or seven inches. The union is made
with slant cut on each piece, both
split, and united together In dovetail
form, and Tapped with grating twine,
then placed in cellar. where they are
well calloused and knit together by
planting time in spring. They are then
set with graft into the ground to the
top bud. This, we see, puts our tender
seeding root Well into the ground, and
we get great set Of roots in two years
from the graft, go that we have our har-
dy varieties of apples on their own
roots. Remember that large per cent
of the seedlings used for grating are
more or less tender, hence the great ne
cessity of discarding all budded or
whole root crown grated apple trees
that are being offered thru our country
at this time. Such statesmen are Il
downright swindle and a curse to our
country. Budding and crown grating
is done on seedlings above the ground,
so that they are entirely on a Seeding
root, and the crown at the surface is
Seeding, while the crown of the piece
root graft is the same as the tree we
plant and il our tree should be injured
and sprout UP from the crown the new
tree Will be the same as we set. The
roots of our western method of start
ing the apple are as fine or better than
those produced by the other system,
and further, we have our trees on their
own roots. and nothing in them what
ever to cause black heart as claimed by
those itinerant statesmen. To this we
will add, the Iowa Horticultural Society
has number of experiment stations To-
Gated in various parts of the state.
each one in charge of an experienced
horticulturist All new fruits, vines and
trees that promise Well are purchased
by committee of the most experienced
men in the society and distributed to
these stations for trial. The results, fa-
vorable or unfayorable, are printed in
the annual reports of the society, and
in the newspapers.
These experiments will save thou
sands of dollars to the farmers of the
state in sitting the good from the bad
and letting planters have the benefit
without expense to themselves. There
fore, if some stranger offers new and
price, do not give him much money for
your experiments, but deal with relia-
bic home nursesrymen, who have such
things as the Iowa Horticultural Society
has tested and found worthy. Take
good care of what you buy and trust to
Iowa for your reward.
We give this as a warning and can
back it up by the best horticulturists of
Iowa and other adjoining states We
hope In the near future to give other
brief hints on this horticultural subject,
giving the varieties of trees and vines
to select from and how to set and care
for them. j. w. SANDERS.
LeGrand, Nov. 20.