BUDDING OF PEACHES AND PLUMS 209 



As the strawberry propagates itself by means of runners 

 which take root at the nodes, the varieties are easily kept pure. 

 The crossing of the pollen does not affect the character of the 

 fruit or the purity of the plants grown from the runners. 



Poorly developed fruits, called " nubbins," are often the 

 result of poor pollination. This may be due to one of several 

 causes: (a) frost, (b) hail, (c) rain, (d) spattering of soil on 

 the pistils, (e) insufficient pollen on varieties blooming late in 

 the season. Mulches of straw or other litter will prevent injury 

 from spattering soil during heavy storms. Growing several 

 varieties together will aid in supplying enough vigorous pollen 

 and cause better development 

 of the fruit. 



Propagation. Apples, 

 pears, and quinces are poma- 

 ceous fruits and propagated 

 by growing stocks from seeds, 



fhon Vmrlrlino' anrl rr^a-pfino- FlG - 133 - Flowers of strawberries. 



tnen Dudaing ana graitmg Pi8tillate or i mpe rfect at left. Perfect at 

 with the desired varieties. right " < Productlve Farming.) 

 The seeds are obtained from the pomace of the cider mills. For 

 many years it was very generally believed that seeds and stocks 

 from France were better than the domestic supply, but in recent 

 years the sentiment has been changing and a very important 

 stock-growing industry has developed in Kansas, Nebraska, 

 Iowa and other states. 



Blackberries, dewberries and raspberries are usually grown 

 from suckers and root cuttings. New varieties are grown 

 from seed. 



Budding of Peaches and Plums. The steps in the method 

 of shield-budding are shown in Fig. 134. The seeds are sprouted 

 in early spring after being mechanically cracked, or broken by 

 freezing in moist soil. Scions are cut from the current season's 

 growth hi August and September, and the buds from these are 

 14 



