North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

It should work as a rootstock, though it does graft rather oddly - some varieties seem to work, some don't on it.  At one time it was given the name Pyrus fusca because it was thought to be a pear species rather than an apple.  Dr. M.N. Westwood recommended it for trial and breeding of fireblight resistant rootstocks, so it should have some value.  Based on the size of the trees, I'd say it would make a semi-dwarfing stock.  Though I'd use an interstem of Winter Banana apple to make sure the graft worked.  Winter Banana is a stock that is graft compatible with pears.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Apr 10, 2005, at 6:17 AM, Thomas Olenio wrote:


Hello,

Can this water tolerant apple (Malus fusca) be useful as grafting roostock in wet areas?  Does it produce a standard tree, or have dwarfing properties.

I have read that the fruit was so acid, settlers just put it in water for winter storge.  Would this quality effect the taste of a grafted apple scion?

Thanks,
Tom


On Sat, 9 Apr 2005 19:50:38 -0700, Lon J. Rombough <lonrom@hevanet.com> wrote:

> Malus fusca is a species of apple native to the Pacific NW.  It has two
> traits useful for your purposes. One is that it's the most resistant to
> fireblight of all apples.  The other is that it grows along
> streambanks, even into the water somewhat, so it can take wet soil
> easily.  The fruit is too tiny to be much good, but  the species would
> give you a way to grow apples on your soggy site.  Sadly, Pierre
> Rotschky, who had more experience with this species than anyone I know,
> passed away last October.
> -Lon Rombough
> Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at
> http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association
> "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
> On Apr 9, 2005, at 7:43 PM, Richard Moyer wrote:
>
> Deb wrote:
> I have a place along a drainage ditch that I would like to plant a
> fruiting hedge.  Our soil is heavy clay.  The front lip of the ditch
> does drain, but it is still a wet area.  Are there any fruiting hedges
> that would do well in a location like this?  I am in SE Ohio.
>
> Deb,
> We have a clay area at our place that floods during heavy rains, and
> Amelanchier canadensis (Juneberry) is doing well there. Got ours from
> Lawyer's Nursery.  Have seen Juneberry growing in soggy places along
> mountain streams and bogs near here.  The form we have is multistemmed
> and tops out at 8-10 feet, but could be pruned shorter.  Outstanding
> multiseason interest; ours in full bloom now.
> Another to try is pawpaw, which also is seasonally flooded in some
> habitat here.
> Consider too the native swamp rose, which has decent flavored hips.
> Agreed with previous post that elderberry a good choice.
> Richard Moyer
> East Tenn, Zone 6



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