SELECTING STOCKS. 231 



common Apple may also be used as a stock for the Pear, 

 but the union between the wood of the two trees is very 

 imperfect, and seldom of long duration. 



PERSIMMON (Diospyros). The Date Plum of Europe, 

 and the many cultivated varieties of the Kaki, or Japan 

 Persimmon (D. Kaki), when grown on the American 

 Persimmon, thrive equally as well, if not better, than on 

 any other stock. The American Persimmon is not only 

 the largest, but most hardy tree of the genus, conse- 

 quently preferable as a stock for the less robust species 

 and varieties. The seedlings grow rapidly, and often reach 

 a size large enough for budding the first season. If not 

 used at this time, they may beheaded back the following 

 spring to insure a vigorous growth -of young wood, into 

 which buds may be inserted later in the season. 



PLUM (Prunus). Seedlings of the hardiest and most 

 vigorous growing varieties of the European Plum are 

 usually preferred by nurserymen for stocks, but the larger 

 growing species of the native Plum answer the purpose 

 well, if budded low, or the cions are splice grafted on the 

 roots, and then planted so deep that the point of junc- 

 tion is covered. The Myrobalan Plum is a favorite 

 among the French nurserymen and orchardists, as it is 

 said not to produce suckers, or, at least, very sparingly, 

 and it is readily propagated by cuttings. There are 

 several other species or varieties of the Plum that may 

 be readily propagated by cuttings, layers, mound layers 

 made by banking of the sprouts or old stools, and by 

 cuttings of the roots. The latter mode is objectionable, 

 as stocks produced in this way are very likely to produce 

 suckers far more freely than will be desirable as the trees 

 become old. Varieties of the Plum, known as the Black 

 Damas and St. Julien, are also largely used as stocks by 

 the French nurserymen, and are also imported by those 

 of this country. These, with the Myrobalan, are among 

 the best, if not the very best, of the European varieties 



