PROPAGATION OF STOCKS. 121 



a very good stock. It is probably the same as used 

 by the French under the names of " Cericette" and " Myro- 

 balan." Several of our authors and even some English 

 writers say that the Mirdbelle is the stock used for dwarf- 

 ing theplui \ peach and apricot, but it seems probable that 

 they are mistaken. In France the cericette or cherry 

 plum is used, and stocks sent us from England as Mira- 

 belle, are but the cherry. 



How the mistake could be made is difficult to say, for 

 the two trees are as different in habit, foliage, wood and 

 fruit, as they can be. The cherry plum is a very low tree 

 with bushy, erect branches, very straight, slender, willow- 

 like, reddish shoots, exceedingly small leaves and buds, 

 and smooth bark. The MirdbeUe is also a low tree, but 

 much more spreading than the other ; the shoots are 

 stouter, of a gray color and downy, with rather prominent 

 buds for so small shoots. It ripens in September, and the 

 cherry a month sooner. 



The cherry plum is a natural species, and can there- 

 fore be produced true from seed. It maintains a vigorous 

 growth all summer, and may be worked in July, August, 

 or September. It may also be propagated from layers. 



The Sloe is also used to some extent where very small 

 trees are wanted, and we have no doubt some native spe- 

 cies, as for instance the Beacli and Chicasaw plums, small 

 trees, will make good dwarf stocks. I am inclined to 

 think, however, that very nice garden trees may be raised 

 on the smaller species of the Canada Plum. The first 

 year's growth and even the second are quite vigorous on 

 them, but after that the vigor diminishes, and the trees 

 become quite prolific. This and the cherry plum will 

 probably become our principal stocks for dwarfing. 



Plums for seeds should ripen well on the tree ; they are 

 then gathered, the pulp washed off, and the seeds dried 

 and put away in boxes of sand in alternate layers, as 



