208 THE GARDENER. [May 



proves to be possessed of all the good qualities which I believe it has, 

 it will be a great acquisition, especially to fruit-growers in Scotland 

 and the north of England. The Paradise stock is in much demand 

 with many growers ; but, for the reasons already given, we are of opin- 

 ion that it is neither hardy enough nor of good enough constitution for 

 wet and cold local ties ; in fact, as a rule it will not give much satisfac- 

 tion farther north than the midland counties of England. I do not 

 deny the fact that it may live and do tolerably for a few short years 

 anywhere in Britain, but it is a well-ascertained fact that beyond the 

 line I have indicated it can never take the place of the "free stock." 



The raising of Apple stocks is done exactly the same as I have 

 already directed for Pears, so that it is quite unnecessary for me to enter 

 into details regarding it. I may, however, give the details of how 

 seedling Apples are raised in Normandy. I quote from Mr Thompson's 

 'Gardener's Assistant,' page 461 : "In Normandy, where Apples are 

 extensively cultivated, the pomace is taken and rubbed between the 

 hands in a vessel of water, in order to separate the pulp from the jnps. 

 After allowing some time for settling, a part of the contents of the 

 vessel is poured off, so as to get clear of the pomace and bad seeds, the 

 pips at the bottom being the only ones that should be made use of. 

 These are dried and kept in a dry place till they are sown. The sow- 

 ing is then performed as soon as the hard frosts are over, for the seed 

 of the Apple does not long maintain its germinative powers. The 

 ground should be well prepared, finely pulverised, and enriched with 

 decayed manure. Drills are made 1 inch deep, and from 7 to 9 inches 

 apart, and in these the seeds are deposited, then covered with fine 

 soil, and afterwards rolled, or pressed close with the back of the spade. 

 It is sometimes advisable to mulch the surface, to prevent it becoming 

 too dry. When the plants are 1 or 2 inches high they are thinned 

 out in rainy weather, otherwise the seed-beds should be watered to 

 settle the earth about the roots of the plants left." The after-manage- 

 ment of the seedlings with regard to transplanting and general man- 

 agement is exactly the same as I have given when treating of the 

 raising of seedling Pears (see page 1 6 of the January number) ; and as 

 it is quite unnecessary to make a repetition of the same, I must refer 

 the reader to that number for full information upon that point. 



It is a point ever to be attended to, however, in the management of 

 either stocks for grafting or seedling Apples, to get them to grow vig- 

 orously, and ever keep them in a healthy state. For this purpose they 

 ought to be annually dressed with good rich manure, which ought not 

 to be placed in direct communication with the roots, but in such a 

 position as to derive all the benefit possible from it. Root-pruning of 

 the stocks ought to be as regularly practised as if they were young 



