icAuG. , 1908.] Fruit T/ce Stocks. 469 



FRUIT TREE STOCKS. 



C . T. Cole, Inspector. Vegetation Diseases Acts. 



What the foundation is to a house, the stock is tO' a fruit tree, and if 

 trees are worked on unsuitable stocks disappointment will result, the tree 

 will cease to be healthy and vigorous, and ultimately die or become 

 useless. 



Apple. — In Australia, we have made quite a new departure with regard 

 to apple stocks. In the old country the seedling apple, or more commonly 

 termed the crab stock, is the one used by nurserymen and orchardists, 

 except in the case of dwarf apple trees, when the " Paradise " stock is 

 used. Here, how'ever, it was found, after some years of experience, that 

 the crab stock was so subject to the woolly aphis {Scliizoneura Lanigera) that 

 it was almost impossible to cultivate apples at all ; in fact apple culture was 

 nearly at a standstill when the two now so well known blight-proof varie- 

 ties, " Winter Majetin "' and " Northern Spy " were introduced as stocks. 

 After a certain amount of prejudice was overcome, growers on all hands 

 recognised this discovery as a boon, and cultivators adopted it freely. The 

 " Northern Spy " has proved better adapted as a stock than the " Winter 

 Majetin " and is now almost exclusively used. 



There are several other lilight-pr(x>f kinds of apples which could doubt- 

 less be used as stocks, but there is no need to increase the number except for 

 sjoecial purposes. Among thoughtful cultivators the question suggests 

 itself — Is it desirable to keep to one .stock only, and propagate by layers, 

 roots, or grafting of roots? I think it is, and to prevent the .stock from 

 becoming \\eaker in its constitution, from, constantly working and re- 

 working upon the same variety, I have worked " Majetin " on " Spv," 

 and " Maggs Seedling " (another blight-proof kind, and robust in consti- 

 tution) upon the "Spy," with the best results. 



For dwarf-apple culture the " Spy " can be used, and the " French 

 Paradise " worked upon the " Spy," and the desired kind again worked 

 upon the " French Paradise." This, however, becomes tedious. We 

 have now in this State, rai.sed from seed here, a '' Paradise " apple tree 

 of dwarfing habit — free surface rooting properties very easily pro- 

 pagated, and upon which the desired kinds may be worked direct. All 

 kinds appear to thrive admirably upon it, and it is quite blight-proof. 



It may be mentioned that even now there are localities where the old 

 Crab stock or seedling apple can be used with safety, viz., well drained, 

 deep sandy soils ; but such stocks are how so scarce that it would be 

 difficult to obtain any from nurservmen. The blight-proof stock is now 

 almost exclusively used. 



Planters must take great care that their trees are worked sufficiently 

 above the surface of the ground to prevent the scion from striking roots 

 into the ground, and displacing the blight-proof stock, thus rendering the 

 whole tree roots a blighted mass. 



Apricot. — This is, perhaps, the most difficult to deal with in regard 

 to stocks. Great dissatisfaction has been experienced by groAvers in con- 

 sequence of their trees breaking off at the point of union with the stock 

 while in perfect health ; and in other cases by the trees having a stunted 

 growth and sickly appearance. This is generally due to unsuitable stocks. 



The plum stock now generally used is a variety of the "Myrobolan" 

 called "La France, " Avhich is easily propagated from cuttings and does not 



