lo Aug., ipoS.] Fruit Tree Stocks. 471 



Plum. — Several kinds of stocks are used for plum trees, viz., the 

 '■ Julien " seedling plum stock, cherry plum " La France " (a variety of 

 "Myrabolan") and the "Mussel" plum stock. During a long experience 

 I have found no better stock than the last named, if judiciously selected. 

 The "La France" stock is now used by nurserymen. It will not stand 

 excessive moisture, or thrive in badly drained grounds, and often in 

 orchards when the trees are fully developed and in bearing, trees will 

 suddenly die completely out in one season, especially such as the " Yellow 

 Magnum Bonum" and that type of plum. 



Sometimes seedlings are recommended, chiefly, it is maintained, because 

 such do not sucker. This is quite a mistake. I tried the experiment 

 several years ago, and found that those trees worked upon seedlings threw 

 up many more suckers than those worked upon the ordinary sucker stock. 

 It has been found that in many localities the "Cherrv" plum has proved 

 a good stock, causing robust growth and being in all respects desirable. 

 All kinds, however, will not .succeed upon it. The "Diamond" plum, and 

 others of similar type, the " Orlean " and some others, succeed well upon 

 it. Experience must decide as to which kinds are best adapted for the 

 "La France" and "Cherry" plum in the particular districts in which they 

 are grown. The two varieties mentioned are the only stocks which do 

 not throw suckers, and for this reason are desirable to u.se when suitable 

 soil and locality to be grown in. 



Cherry. — Experience has shown that the stock in general use for the 

 cherry in the old country is not adapted for these States. There, the 

 seedling "Mazard " or wild black cherry, is used as a stock for orchard 

 planting and the " Cerasus ]\Iahaleb " or perfumed cherry, where 

 dwarfing is required. Neither of these stocks is of any use here. Some 

 few years ago there was a great demand for the seedling cherry stock, 

 w^iich, as a stock, is almost identical with the " Mazard," especially when 

 raised from black cherries. At the period referred to, it was claimed for 

 this stock that it had a hardy constitution, would attain a large size, and 

 not throw up suckers like the stock generally in use. But, as predicted at 

 the time, its popularity was but short-lived. It was found that the 

 varieties worked upon this seedling stock grew splendidly for a few years, 

 and had the appearance of making large well-developed trees; but the 

 vigour soon ceased, and the trees began to die off, and those in more 

 favoured spots that did not die bore but scanty crops of fruit of small 

 size and inferior quality. 



The "Mahaleb" cherry of English shrubberies is much used in Britain 

 and on the Continent as a dwarfing stock. Why cultivators should have 

 selected this stock is a matter of surprise, as with us its dwarfing 

 capabilities are not manifest. It rather induces a vigorous growth for 

 awhile, and then the trees die out; this happens when the "Duke" and 

 "Kentish" classes of cherries are worked upon it and they are the classes 

 specially recommended for this stock. The old cherry stock in use from the 

 foundation of Victoria and now in general use, is the best stock known 

 here. It is, as all growers know, a small red cherry, ripe just before 

 Christmas ; it is a good cooking varietv, and pleasant to eat. It is one of 

 the "Montmorency" .section, much like a "Kentish." It is, however, not 

 faultless; it throws up abundance of suckers, and for this reason is some- 

 what troublesome; still I believe it is the best stock for cherries. It is 

 not generally known or recognised that the fact of this stock not keeping 

 pace with the kinds worked upon it is its great virtue. It acts upon the 



