136 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



seedlings. Most Apple seedlings are root-grafted (see page 112), 

 but this often results in crown gall. (See page 113.) 



Dwarf Apples. The stocks used for dwarfing the Apple are 

 known as the Doucin and the Paradise. The Paradise is the more 

 dwarf. Apples on Paradise stock may be planted as close as 8 to 10 

 feet apart; those on Doucin, 12 to 15 feet. Incidentally, it may be 

 stated that dwarf trees are hardly as popular in the United States 

 as in Europe for the trees are less hardy and the tree roots are at 

 the surface of the soil and are frequently injured by cultivation. 

 When any of the dwarf trees are planted, care must be taken that 

 the union of the stock and cion is not placed beneath the surface 

 of the soil, or else the cion will root, and being on its own roots, 

 will lose its dwarfness. 



APRICOTS 



Apricots are usually budded upon seedling stocks or upon the 

 Peach. The stones are treated like those of Peaches. They are 

 budded about the first of September. 



Some propagators hold that the Peach, being better adapted 

 than the Apricot, to a range of soils, is, therefore, a more successful 

 stock. Prof. Budd, however, advises the native Plums as the best 

 stock, holding that they are superior to the Myrobalan or St. Julien 

 stocks. For wet locations the Plum is especially useful. 



CHERRIES 



Fruit growers and nurserymen are, at present, having a contro- 

 versy as to just which stock is the best for commercial Cherry cul- 

 ture. The Mahaleb and the Mazzard are the two sorts most used. 

 According to Hedrick, * fruit growers hold that the Mazzard is the 

 best stock for all orchard varieties; the nurserymen believe the 

 Mahaleb better for the sour Cherries and really good for the sweet 

 sorts as well. The Mazzard stock is the more expensive. 



The Mazzard Cherry, P. avium, is the type from which has come 

 the varieties of sweet Cherries. It is tall growing. The tree is not 

 of the hardiest type but is a vigorous grower and is healthy, except 

 for its susceptibility to attacks of the shot-hole fungus which makes 

 it difficult to grow in the nursery. This stock is readily grown from 

 seed. 



The Mahaleb Cherry, P. Mahaleb, is a bush-like Cherry, with 

 fine branches; the leaves are small. The fruits are green, turning 

 yellow, and, when ripe, black; but they are hard, bitter and astrin- 



*Hedrick, U. P. Cherries of New York. 



