52 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this M'Siy provided it is kept vigorously beaded back. The 

 Myrol)alan plum stocks, bowever, bave been used largely in this 

 country for the propagation of all ordinary plums, so that a major- 

 ity of what we know as standard plum trees are really growing on 

 this so-called dwarfing stock. It is obvious that some still slower 

 growing stock must be found if the requirements of the situation 

 are to be fully met. Fortunately plums may be worked on a 

 great variety of stocks and some of these seem to offer the 

 required characteristics. In Iowa. Minnesota and the neighbor- 

 ing states plums are very largely grafted on Americana roots, that 

 is on some of the seedlings of Primus Americana. These stocks 

 produce a tree considerably dwarfer than those grown on Myro- 

 balan plums. Moreover this stock is hardy, vigorous, health}', 

 and in all other respects satisfactory. Some persons have com- 

 plained that it sprouts from the roots, but I have never observed 

 this trait, although I have seen many plums on Americana roots. 

 I do not think that this stock is more objectionable in the way of 

 sprouting than many others. 



Another plum stock which has been extensively used in an 

 experimental way and which offers special promise as a dwarfing 

 stock for plums, is the sand cherry. This plant is native to 

 Massachusetts, and, in fact, in some of its forms, to practically 

 all the northern states as far west as the Rocky Mountains. Its 

 different forms are known botanically as Primus pumila, P. cime- 

 ata, and P. besseyi. These all seem to be good stocks although our 

 experience has been specially happy with Primus bessei/i. All 

 kinds of plums and peaches grow splendidly on this root. They 

 make an exceptionally fine growth the first year in the nursery, 

 in this respect differing markedly from most dwarf trees. The 

 great difficulty experienced thus far has been in securing stocks. 

 We are now experimenting with different ways of propagating 

 P. pwnila^ P. besseyi, and P. cuneata and as soon as some satis- 

 factory method of producing these rapidl}- and cheaply has been 

 established they bid fair to become the leading dwarfing stock 

 for plums. 



Dwarf cherries are sometimes spoken of. For the most part 

 the so-called dwarf cherries are merely such varieties as Morello, 

 Vladmir and other north European sour cherries which never 



