The Propagation of Plums 239 



on peach give a better union and make a better tree if 

 worked by the ordinary whip-graft method than when 

 budded. Experiment and experience have both been 

 short on this matter, however; and much remains to 

 be learned. 



Whip-grafting. — All nurserymen and fruit grow- 

 ers know how to make and manage whip-grafts. This 

 method has been successfully employed over almost 

 the whole range of plums and stocks grown in Amer- 

 ica, and has usually been successful. It has done so 

 well in putting plums on peach stocks that Mr. J. W. 

 Kerr and some other extra-conscientious propagators 

 use it exclusively. Even in working on Marianna 

 stocks or Myrobalan seedlings, whip-grafting is some- 

 times best. In the northwest, where Americana stocks 

 are almost exclusively used, whip-grafting is usually 

 recommended, but not often employed. On this point 

 Professor Craig writes me as follows : 



"On the question of budding and grafting the plum, 

 although the latter is talked of a good deal, it is not in it in 

 practice. The only institution, either private or public, that I 

 know anything of, which has propagated plums by grafting in 

 anything like a commercial way, is the Iowa agricultural col- 

 lege. The trouble with root-grafting the plum is that the 

 stand is so very uncertain. Occasionally the propagator hits 

 it all right, but more occasionally he doesn't hit it at all. In 

 1897 there were propagated about 12,000 plums by this depart- 

 ment. As nearly as I can estimate, fully 85 per cent., perhaps 

 90 per cent., grew. These were side-grafted on Americana 

 stocks. The best success was in using Americana under Ameri- 

 cana. However all this may be, the fact remains that 95 per 

 cent, of the plums propagated in this state are by budding 

 methods. I may say that in my own experience in propa- 

 gating Americana plums on piece roots in the same manner as 

 is practiced with the apple — and I am not sure that this is not 

 the best plan — I have had fair success ; I think it a good plan 

 at any rate." 



Side- grafting. — This is a method used at the Iowa 

 agricultural college by Professors Budd and Craig, 



