STOCKS FOR FRUIT TREES n 



are required. It is not much use, for example, to buy fan- 

 trained trees for planting in the open. 



Of course, it is quite possible to buy maiden trees and grow 

 and train them for whatever purpose is required ; but the 

 amateur will be well advised to buy trees two years old. Maiden 

 trees have had but one season's growth, and usually consist of 

 one straight stem. 



Fruit Tree Stocks. Apple trees for small gardens should 

 be on the Paradise Stock in preference to the Crab. The trees 

 are smaller on the Paradise, and are in nearly all cases quicker 

 in coming into bearing than when on the Crab or seedling 

 Stock. 



There are many sorts of Pears which fail completely when 

 grown directly upon the Quince. Unless these are " double 

 worked " (that is to say, budded not directly on the Quince 

 but on another variety of Pear which itself is budded on the 

 Quince), they are absolute failures, and this is serious when 

 only one or two trees can be grown. But for small gardens 

 Pears should be grown upon the Quince Stock either from single 

 or double working. Pears grown upon Pear Stocks make very 

 large trees as a rule, and to keep them within bounds in a small 

 area involves much pruning, and this in its turn tends to barren- 

 ness and overproduction of shoots which seldom produce fruit. 



Most land requires draining for fruit growing. In all cases 

 it is not possible to carry out draining. Where the ground lies 

 very low, and water does not readily escape, the trees may be 

 mounded or planted somewhat above the surrounding level. 

 In each hole in which a tree is planted there may be placed 

 half a barrow load of broken bricks and lumps of old mortar. 

 This to some extent drains the position of the tree, but by no 

 means solves the problem of badly drained land where there 

 is no outlet for surplus water. 



