Remarks on Dwarfing Fruit Trees. 401 



Paradise, however, will thrive in any good sound loam, and 

 this may be slightly manured for them, or at least some half 

 decayed vegetable matter may be blended with the soil. 

 These, too, should be mulched annually, in order to carry 

 out the objects before explained. 



With regard to plums, most of the stocks used by our 

 nurserymen are of too gross a habit for a dwarfing system. 



What is called the " Brussels," we believe, is an exceed- 

 ingly gross stock ; that termed the Muscle or Mussel stock, 

 is, we believe, more moderate in growth, and would answer 

 better. 



In the question of stocks, however, much has to be 

 learned, and many trials ought to be at once instituted by 

 some public body, such as the Horticultural Society of Lon- 

 don, in order to set the matter at rest forever. About five 

 years Avould suffice to throw all necessary light on the sub- 

 ject, and the trials should embrace everything likely, espe- 

 cially stocks of a hardy character, and which thrive in their 

 own native ordinary soils. For instance, the black thorn or 

 sloe ; why may not this answer for the plum on a dwarfing 

 system ? 



I would now advert to what I must term the great mis- 

 take of former days in regard of trained fruits. Everything 

 was to be carried out by peculiar modes of training ; hence 

 we had, for a series of years, a host of systems, so termed : 

 in addition, too, great niceties in the pruning art were intro- 

 duced, and shown forth in many a tempting diagram, tempt- 

 ing I mean to those who were still merely scanning the 

 surface of the aff'air. At last, a more comprehensive view of 

 the subject began to be taken, and pruning and training fell 

 into a secondary position. 



Limitation of branch was now supposed to require a cor- 

 responding amount of limitation at the root, and from that 

 period may be dated a sound reform in fruit culture. The 

 whole matter has now taken what I conceive to be a health- 

 ful tone, and I have little doubt that, during the next seven 

 years, most of the gardens in the kingdom will present a 

 new and much improved aspect. 



VOL. XVI. NO. IX. 51 



