American Pomology. ApplesWarder, J. A. (John Aston)
Science
American Pomology. Apples
Warder, J. A. (John Aston)
Apples
SUCKERS.--One of the simplest methods of multiplying varieties
consists of increasing and encouraging the suckers thrown up by the
roots; these are separated and set out for trees. We have been told by
some physiologists that there was an absolute difference in structure
between the root and the stem, that they could not be substituted the
one for the other; and yet the oft quoted marvel of the tree which was
planted upside down, and which produced flowers and leaves from its
roots, while its branches emitted fibres, and became true roots, is
familiar to every one. Here, as in other cases, our teachers have led
us into error by attempting to trace analogy with animal anatomy and
physiology, and by directing our attention to the circulation of
plants, as though they, like the higher animals, possessed true
arterial and venous currents of circulating fluids. The cell
circulation is quite a different affair, and can be conducted in
either direction, as every gardener knows who has ever layered a
plant, or set a cutting upside down. So with the roots--they are but
downward extensions of the stem; under ordinary circumstances they
have no need for buds, but these may be, and often are developed, when
the necessity for their presence arises. Buds do exist on roots,
especially upon those that are horizontal and near the surface, and
from them freely spring suckers, which are as much parts of the parent
tree as its branches, and may be planted with entire certainty of
obtaining the same fruit, just as the twigs when used as cuttings, or
scions, when grafted, will produce similar results.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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