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nature of the variety, trees will have a tendency to make an over-luxuriant 

 growth of wood, and at the same time they produce but little fruit, 

 In such cases root pruning is likely to prove the most effective remedy. 

 For detailed directions for root pruning., see article upon the Apple in 

 volume 1. 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation may be effected by various means, including seeds, 

 cuttings, layers, suckers, budding, and grafting. Seeds are, as a matter 

 of course, the only means by which new varieties can be obtained. 

 Seedlings are also raised in large quantities for stocks, and the Cherry 

 Plum is in great demand for this purpose. Some growers object to 

 seedling stocks as being too vigorous and having a tendency to throw up 

 suckers. Those who hold this opinion prefer stocks that are raised from 

 layers or cuttings, the varieties most generally used in this part of the 

 world being the Julian for free-growing stocks, and the Muscle for those 

 that are less robust. The Cherry Plum is also a favourite stock, as it 

 throws suckers less freely than some kinds. A variety known as the 

 French Cherry Plum is preferred by many to the common kind. As in 

 the case of other fruits, there can be no doubt about seedlings affording 

 the most durable and thrifty stocks. They must, however, be raised 

 from such kinds as are likely to prove suitable for the varieties worked 

 upon them Varieties differ very considerably in their habits, and 

 seedlings from very strong ones are likely to make over-vigorous stocks 

 for less robust sorts. When this is the case suckers are produced freely, 

 and in all probability the fruitfulness of the trees and the quality of the 

 fruit are often materially affected through lack of congeniality between 

 the stock and the scion. There ought to be no great difficulty in raising 

 seedling stocks that will be in sympathy with the varieties worked upon 

 them. Varieties are most generally perpetuated by budding, and this 

 operation may be performed at any time during the growing season, when 

 the bark will rise freely from the wood, but, as a rule, the most favourable 

 time is soon after mid-sumnier. 9 Grafting is less practised than budding, 

 and may be done just before growth commences in the spring. As to the 

 relative merits of the various stocks opinions vary considerably, but the 

 writer considers that under ordinary circumstances the Plum should have 

 the preference, as likely to give the most durable trees. Then, again, the 

 Cherry Plum seems to offer greater advantages than other kinds for 

 ordinary purposes, and more especially in light sandy soils. In America 

 the Canada Plum (Prunus Americana) is used successfully as a dwarfing 

 stock for poor, stiff, and wet soils, and may, if tried, prove serviceable in 

 Australasia. The Peach makes a fairly good stock in dry hot districts, 

 though the trees are not likely to be so long-lived as if worked upon 

 Cherry Plums. The Almond is also a very good stock for dry districts, 

 and more especially in soils containing a large proportion of lime. 



V 



INJURIOUS INSECTS. 

 The Plum often suffers from the attacks of various insects, and these 



