88 THE ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEN. 



The Doucin or Paradise stock for apples, like the 

 quince stock for pears, is good for throwing fibrous 

 roots near the surface of the ground, thus collecting 

 the best nourishment for the tree, and for transmitting 

 moderate growth and great fertility to the graft, which 

 makes the tree bear early and well. On the Continent a 

 distinction is made between the Doucin and Paradise 

 stocks ; the Doucin is used for pyramidal, and the Para- 

 dise (too poor in growth for our climate) for dwarf-bush 

 training, the Doucin stock being of freer growth than 

 the Pomme de Paradis, but much less free than the crab 

 stock. The Burr-knot is a large culinary apple, which 

 roots very readily from cuttings. Young seedling apple 

 trees sometimes show a surfoce-rooting habit : any such 

 that have a good growth and fine, healthy foliage, deserve 

 attention with a view to stocks. 



Young apple trees that have been grafted two or three 

 years may be removed from the nursery. If for pyra- 

 midal training, they should have straight centre stems, 

 well furnished with buds and shoots down to the stock, 

 if for bush training, they may branch from within a foot 

 of the ground. Put no manure round the roots in 

 planting them, but shake a little light, friable mould in 

 amongst the roots, fill in the earth, and scatter a little 

 half-rotted manure on the surface of the ground, and 

 the same surface-dressing may be given every autumn. 



Trees to be trained for standards should have not less 

 than three, nor more than four, healthy, evenly balanced 

 shoots, to become at a future time the main branches. 

 At the end of a year these branches should be headed 

 down or not, according to the growth of the tree : and 

 as the head grows thicker, all crowding shoots should be 

 cleared away. 



Pyramids maybe pruned and trained, as mentioned for 

 pyramidal pears, and dwarf bushes must be allowed 

 shoots enough to form an equal, regularly shaped little 

 tree ; and the same pinching back and treatment recom- 

 mended for pears may be pursued with them. As the 

 tree grows, the head should be kept well balanced, so 

 that one side shall not be higher or more crowded in its 



