The Propagation of Plums 237 



hybridized seed, they should be cracked by hand, and 

 only the kernels need be planted. 



When pits are handled in large quantities for 

 growing stocks, the same pains cannot be taken. In 

 such cases the stones may either be stratified in large 

 boxes, or they may be planted directly in the rows in 

 the fall, where they are to grow the following season. 

 In the southern states such stocks will grow large 

 enough in one year to be budded in the rows in August 

 or September. In the north, they do not get so large. 

 They are therefore often sown in seed beds, and are 

 transplanted into nursery rows the second spring. 

 Even in the northern states, however, seedling stocks, 

 especially Americanas, are sometimes grown large 

 enough the first year to be grafted; and they are not 

 then placed in the nursery rows till after the grafts 

 are set. 



Stickers. — Plums are sometimes grown from suck- 

 ers. This is said to be a common practice in some 

 parts of Europe. When trees are growing on their 

 own roots, the varieties may be reproduced in this 

 way. A limited number of stocks may be secured in 

 this manner at times when other means are imprac- 

 ticable: and it is said that many of the Domesticas do 

 better in cold latitudes when growing thus on their 

 own roots. But planting plums from suckers is to be 

 severely discouraged in this country. Other and bet- 

 ter methods of propagation are too many and too easy, 

 and good plum trees are too cheap, to offer anyone an 

 excuse for persisting in such an archaic practice. 



Layers. — Some of the plums grow well from lay- 

 ers. Any plum which will grow from cuttings will 

 grow from layers, and so will some others. The dwarf 

 sand cherries layer more or less in the natural state, 

 and there can be no objection to this method of prop- 



