254 [ THE APPLE TKEE 



on own seedlings. In very moist and shaded situations 

 the fruit grows to a large size, but is not so well coloured 

 and its quality is not so good and does not keep so well 

 as when grown in drier and more sunny situations, 



PROPAGATION. The apple may be propagated (i) 

 by seed, (2) by budding or grafting, (3) by layers, cuttings 

 and suckers taken from the mother plant. 



Propagation by seed is commonly undertaken only 

 for the purpose of raising stock for budding or grafting, 

 and for this object any apple seed will do. However, 

 unlike the pear tree, the apple raised from seed will 

 fruit when quite young, and it is worth while to sow 

 kernels of good sorts of apples, or of fruits which have 

 been fertilized expressly for this purpose, as in a batch 

 of seedling apples one or more may turn out of superior 

 quality and deserving propagation as a new variety. 

 Kernels of the paradise crab (P. Malus Lin. var. acerba 

 D.C., forma paradisiaca L. or praecox Bluff et Fing.), 

 and of the cherry crab or doucin stock (P. Malus L. var. 

 dasyphylla Bluff et Fing. forma mitis Wallr. and forma 

 eriophylla Moris), are sown by continental nurserymen 

 for raising stock, and also propagated on a large scale 

 by cuttings and suckers. Apples grafted on paradise 

 stock are dwarfed more than those grafted on doucin 

 stock, and though they are more productive are only fit 

 for training into cordons and other small forms. However 

 even the doucin stock does not produce plants of sufficient 

 vigour for our climate, although it is largely used on the 

 continent as stock for extensive orchards. The kernels 

 are dealt with in the same manner as those of the pear, 

 and the seedlings require also the same treatment. 



Budding is performed at any time from April to 

 September, and grafting is done in winter the best time 

 being towards the close of February. Seedling apples 

 or wildings, as well as the paradise crab and the doucin 

 stocks take budding or grafting most kindly, so that with 

 proper attention failures will be rare. Certain varieties 



