New Method of Perpetuating the Plum. 161 



The wardian case which is becoming very popular, would, be an 

 admirable companion for a small plant stand, as its peculiarities 

 are similar in effect to those produced by the more elaborate and 

 expensive forcing house. 



NEW METHOD OF PERPETUATING THE PLUM. 



BY ISAAC REAGLES. 



Nurserymen are generally very unsuccessful in propagating the 

 plum on an extensive scale. The great difficulty consists in the 

 buds refusing to take, with sufficient tenacity, to become a compo- 

 nent of the stock. Sometimes in budding plums, a portion of the 

 wood or bark will attach itself permanently to the stock ; but this 

 portion in most cases, is not the part which contains the bud. As 

 the season for budding the plum tree is quite short, the only 

 remedy remaining for stock, on which the buds have failed, is to 

 engraft the ensuing spring ; but engrafting the plum is an equally 

 unsuccessful operation, hence the difficulty that is experienced in 

 getting a saleable stock of plum trees. 



Having devoted special attention to raising plum trees, for the 

 wholesale trade, for the last ten years, it became necessary for me 

 to devise some method that would facilitate the increase of stock. 

 I had often observed that the buds invariably grew better on wood 

 of the current season's formation, than that of the previous year. 

 Taking advantage of this fact, I subsequently sought the new 

 wood, when practicable, in which to insert the buds ; the only fault 

 with this method was, that the trees were worked so high on the 

 body of the stock, that in the case of rapid growing kinds, the 

 scion out-grew the bottom, thus making unsightly and rather un- 

 saleable trees. 



I have practiced a method with great success for several years, 

 by which I secure the principle of budding in new wood, and at 

 the same time, work the stocks within an inch of the ground. 



In the first place, care must be observed to procure none but 

 sound, fresh seed. In the month of November, the ground must be 

 prepared for the reception of the pits. This is performed by 

 ploughing a deep trench. (The soil should be a rather stiff loam,) 

 which may be afterwards deepened to eighteen inches with a spade. 



