3: 



Journal of Agriculture , Victoria. [lo June, 191 i. 



the harder wood of the plum, the apricot, like the plum worked upon the 

 peach, and vice versa, is liable to break away at the union of bud or 

 graft with the stock. The peach may be used as a stock, but the writer 

 does not recommend its general use. 



Plant stones, .selected from mid-sea.son or late varieties, in June or July. 

 The stones should have been kept in a dry state. A good plan is to 

 soak them in cold water a few days before planting, or until the moisture 

 reaches the kernels. Test a few stones by cracking them, and drain off 

 the water immediately upon finding the kernels moist. The soaking 

 process is valuable, particularly if the weather is dry when planting, and 

 likely to remain so. 



Apricot stocks should be planted out in the 

 nunsery where the soil is well-drained, loose, 

 and warm. The stocks can either be raised 

 in seed-beds, and transplanted the following- 

 planting season, or else planted directly in the 

 beds for budding upon during the following 

 autumn. (See section dealing with planting 

 (page 361.) 



Peach and Nectarine Stocks. 

 The best stock for propagating these fruits 

 upon is the peach seedling. But in light soils, 

 where the almond thrives better than the peach 

 or nectarine, the seedling almond should be 

 used as a stock. Several old growers in the 

 Cheltenham district near the coast only plant 

 the peach when worked upon the almond, 

 claiming that not only are the trees more 

 robust and productive, but that the fruit 

 ripens a few days earlier than when worked 

 upon peach stock. 



Peach stones should bs secured from seedling 

 or mid-season varieties, if possible. As soon 

 as the stones are secured, open out a trench in 

 a fairly moist, warm, and sheltered position. 

 Spread a layer of stones about 3 inches in 

 depth, and cover lightly with sand or soil. 

 Continue this treatment until the trench is 

 nearly full, finally covering well over with 

 soil. The stones should not be allowed to get 

 dry or too wet. When planting in May or 

 June remove the top soil, shovel out the 

 stones, and sieve to remove any .soil. A suit- 

 able sieve can be made by making a fraine from 4-in. x i-in. softwood, 

 and nailing J-in. mesh wire-netting upon the bottom. 



Another method is to crack the stones carefully with a hamm.er and 

 remove the kernels. To do this, get a block and place the stones upon 

 edge, when a sharp clout upon the upper edge will force open the stone. 

 Then spread the kernels upon moist ground in a sheltered spot and cover with 

 moist bags for a few days before planting. When planting, any bruised or 

 bad kernels are ea.sily detected by giving them a slight squeeze. I do not 

 favour this method, and consider it unnecessary. Besides being tedious. 



B 



10. CUTTINGS FOR RAISING 



ROOTED STOCKS. 



A. Wronjfly made Cutting — Should 

 have been cut at X ; B. Plum— Pro- 

 perly cut ; C. C^iiince - Properly cut. 



