PLUMS. 381 



CHAPTER XII. 

 ON THE CULTIVATION OF PLUMS. 



Propagation, 



Plums are propagated by budding and gi'afting upon the 

 Brussels and the Common Plum stock. The former is 

 principally employed for such sorts as are intended to be 

 worked standard high; it is used also for dwarfs. 



The Common stock is used likemse for both standards 

 and dwarfs ; but then the former are worked below, the same 

 as for dwarfs, and the strongest of the plants are allowed to 

 run up for standards. 



In raising standard Plums, however, I have found it the 

 best way to bud them upon the Common stock, nine inches 

 from the ground. If the stocks are strong and in health, and 

 upon a good soil, they will throw up the vigorous growing 

 sorts standard high the first year; those which are of a more 

 moderate growth will attain that height the following year. 

 For dwarfs, as I have observed before, those which are ob- 

 tained by grafting are to be preferred. 



Pruning and Training, 

 Sect. I. — Open Standards. 



Open standards of Plums should be chosen, such as are 

 straight and clean in their stems, with regular heads of four 

 equally strong well-placed shoots. If the trees have been 

 planted in the autumn, they will, by the following April, have 

 made fresh roots, and their buds will begin to push ; they 

 must at this time be headed down to three or four inches, 

 after which they will furnish three or four others from each 

 shoot. 



If, however, at the next winter pruning a sufficient num- 

 ber cannot be selected to form the head, the best must be 

 selected and cut down again as before, which, if the tree be 

 in a state of health, must furnish abundance for the purpose. 

 The best of those being selected, they must be allowed to 

 grow at their full length, without ever shortening them again, 

 unless through some accident there should be a vacancy in 

 the head which requires to be filled up. 



