PROPAGATION OF STOCKS. 131 



proved to be too feeble in its growth to be used advan- 

 tageously for a stock for fruit trees, so it is abandoned. 



The Mountain Ash, it is said, makes a good stock for 

 certain varieties in very light, sandy soils, when neither 

 the pear nor quince succeeds well. It is propagated from 

 seed, and requires to be two years old before being 

 worked. 



The Thorn. Seedlings of our vigorous, native thorns 

 make good stocks when about three years old ; the seeds 

 require to be in the rot-heap one year before sowing. The 

 only cases in which it can be recommended are those in 

 which a soil may be so wet and cold as to be unfit for the 

 pear or quince ; but it is better to improve such soils by 

 draining, subsoil plowing, and by the addition of suitable 

 composts ; for even the thorn will fail in giving satisfac- 

 tion on a stiff, cold soil. I cannot recommend either the 

 Thorn or Mountain Ash as a stock for the pear, except as 

 a matter of fancy or experiment. 



3d. Stocks for the Cherry. The principal stocks used 

 for the cherry are the Mazzard, for standard orchard trees, 

 and the Mahaleb, for garden pyramids and dwarfs. 



Mazzard Seedlings. The Mazzard cherry is a lofty, 

 rapid-growing, pyramidal-headed tree. Its fruit is small, 

 dark brown or black, with a sprightly flavor, and slight 

 bitterness. It is the original type of all the heart 

 varieties. 



The Mahaleb (Cerasus Mahaleb) is a small tree, with 

 glossy, deep-green foliage. The fruit is black, about the 

 size of a marrowfat pea, and quite bitter. It blossoms and 

 bears fruit when about three years old. It is consider- 

 ably cultivated in many parts of Europe as an orna- 

 mental lawn tree. There are few bearing trees in this 

 country yet ; consequently, a large proportion of the stocks 

 are imported, or grown from imported seeds. 



The seeds are prepared, saved, sown, and managed, in 

 all respects, similar to the Mazzards, and are fit for trans- 



