340 POMOLOGY 



usually begin to sprout rather early in the spring, when it 

 should be sown in a well prepared, deep, rich soil. This is 

 important in order to produce straight long roots, as these 

 are superior for propagation purposes. The seed is sown in 

 rows four feet apart and the seedlings should be cultivated 

 thoroughly throughout the summer. After the leaves have 

 dropped in the fall, the little trees are dug, a part of the tops 

 removed (leaving about six inches of the stem), the plants 

 tied in bundles, and the bundles packed in boxes of green 

 sawdust, sand, or other material in which they may be kept 

 reasonably moist and cool. Such seedling roots are known 

 as apple "stock." 



303. The more common fruit-stocks.— The stock used 

 for propagating a fruit must be "congenial," that is, the 

 cion must be capable of making a good union and growth on 

 such stock. A number of unusual combinations can be made, 

 but the more common are here listed : 



Apple — French crab; Vermont crab; Minnesota crab; 

 Virginia crab; and for dwarfing, Paradise and Doucin. 



Pear — French pear seed; Japan pear; Kieffer seed collected 

 in eastern United States. For dwarfing, Angers or other 

 quince. 



Quince — from cuttings, stools, or mound-layering; and 

 seed (to a limited extent). 



Peach — seeds of wild or standard varieties, usually se- 

 cured in this country. 



•Plum — seedlings of Primus domestica; St. Julien; myro- 

 bolan (P. cerasifera) ; and sometimes P. americana. The 

 peach may be used for plum stock when the latter is to be 

 grown on light soils. For dwarfing myrobolan, also mira- 

 bella (a form of P. cerasifera), and several forms of the native 

 plums. 



Cherry — Mazzard cherry (P. avium); P. Mahaleb and P. 

 pennsylvanica to some extent. 



