THE PLUM] 343 



mixed with rotted manure. Sowing may be done thickly, 

 distributing the seeds or stones about 5 c.m. apart, and 

 covering them with a light porous mixture of garden soil 

 and old manure or vegetable mould to the depth of about 

 3 c.m. Germination takes place in the following spring, 

 and the young seedlings are carefully weeded and watered 

 throughout the summer. The seedlings are transplanted 

 to the nursery in the following winter or in the next if 

 they are yet too weak Their subsequent treatment 

 depends on the purpose for which they are grown. For 

 grafting close to the ground it is enough to insist on a 

 clean straight stem about 10 c.m. high, but if the seedlings 

 are meant for the production of standards they are topped 

 to 5 cm. above the ground and the best shoot which 

 springs up from the base is reserved and tied to the heel 

 to grow straight until it has reached the height at which 

 it is desired to bud it or graft it. The propagation of 

 plum stock from seed is rarely practiced by our gardeners, 

 and in view of the fact that a sufficient quantity of this 

 stock is at least as easily raised by other methods, there 

 appears to be no reason why it should be specially 

 recommended. The propagation of the plum by seed 

 with the object to produce new and improved sorts 

 more vigorous and better acclimatized is of course a 

 totally different matter, and may be taken up by the 

 amateur or by the more scientific grower. 



Cuttings of all wild plums ^ to i-J- c.m. in thickness, 

 and 20 c.m. long, taken in winter, will root without 

 difficulty. They should be stuck in well prepared soil for 

 about | of their length, in a vertical position, and the 

 soil should be kept well moist in spring when the cuttings 

 are rooting, and afterwards watered regularly throughout 

 the summer. In the following winter the rooted cuttings 

 may be planted out in the nursery 50 c.m. apart, and 

 budded in the following spring or grafted in the next 

 winter. Cuttings made of slender twigs, with a heel of 

 the old wood, will root with the same facility, but will 



