51 



The vigour of the tree is such that the head will each 

 year fetch up a somewhat rounded outline instead of a flat 

 top, particularly if the practice of cutting to an outside 

 bud is followed. 



The choice of stocks for the apricot lies between self- 

 seedlings and peach seedlings. Experience has shown that 

 the great yellow St. Helena peach makes an excellent 

 stock provided the soil is open, well worked and well 

 drained. It will not however stand the abuse of un- 

 necessary irrigation. That piece of mismanagement is 

 quick and sudden death to the peach as soon as the outlets 

 for free seepage get clogged. If the soil is not favour- 

 able to the peach, self -seedlings may be used, or in still 

 harder conditions, plum stocks have the best chance. Of 

 these the recently introduced myrobolan plum is highly 

 commended. Its use however is too recent here to allow 

 of actual experience being quoted. In places where the 

 soil is naturally very dry or the subsoil rocky and in- 

 nutritive, the almond may be used. Opinions differ 

 much as to its value, some declining to use it on the 

 ground that the graft does not make a sound junction with 

 the almond stock, and is liable to be blown out by the high 

 winds or to snap off. Others recommend it from trial, 

 claim for it a special fitness, and maintain that it makes a 

 satisfactory adhesion. It is probable that both views are 

 right in their own way, that is to say that the looser 

 textured wood of the apricot as grown in rich fertile soil 

 does not lit the harder tissues of the almond, but that 

 when its rampant tendency to rapid growth is checked 

 either by more sterile soil or drier atmospheric conditions, 

 its wood-layers approximate more to the texture of those 

 of the almond, and a better junction results. To this view 

 tends the tradition of French nurserymen, that the almond 

 is a preferable stock in arid chalky uplands. They use by 

 preference the hard-shelled sweet variety. In the Eastern 

 United States with a colder climate than ours, the plum 

 stock seems to have the preference. The varieties which 

 succeed best here are, Moorpark, Hemskirke, Eoyal, Grosse 

 Peche, Breda and Blenheim. The last two are the hardiest, 

 although rather small. The first-named variety demands 

 special care in shortening in, otherwise it is rather shy in 



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