SELECTING STOCKS. 22? 



times cultivated as standards and in the form of small 

 trees. To secure this form they are grafted upon some 

 strong growing species, like the Missouri Currant (Ribes 

 aureum), which appears to answer the purpose as well as 

 any that has thus far been tested. 



DATE PLUM. See Persimmon. 



FIG. The Fig is rarely propagated by grafting, as it 

 grows very readily from cuttings ; but weak and feeble 

 varieties may be grafted upon the strong and vigorous. 



GOOSEBERRY. Like the Currant, this shrub is some- 

 times trained in the tree form, and the low growing 

 varieties grafted upon the tall and most vigorous. Stocks 

 raised either from seed or cuttings of the wild North 

 American species are the best for this purpose. The 

 Round-leaved Gooseberry of the Western States (Ribes 

 rotundifolium), is one of the strongest and tallest grow- 

 ing of the indigenous species, consequently one of the 

 best for stocks. 



MEDLAR. Strong growing species of the Hawthorn 

 are preferred for stocks, but seedling Medlars, or even 

 the Quince, may be employed for this purpose. 



MULBERRY. Seedlings of the common White Mul- 

 berry (Morus alba), are usually employed as stocks upon 

 which to graft the Downing and other improved varieties. 



NECTARINE. As the Nectarine is only a smooth- 

 skinned Peach, the same kinds of stocks and treatment 

 are recommended for both. (See Peach.) 



OLIVE. In Southern Europe wild seedling Olives are 

 often used as stocks upon which to graft the cultivated 

 varieties as a means of hastening maturity. Grafting 

 the Olive is not, however, a very general mode of propa- 

 gation, as all the varieties are easily propagated by cut- 

 tings of the old as well as young wood. 



PAPAW (Asimina). Seedlings of the common Papaw 

 (A. triloba], may be employed as stocks for the smaller 



