The Canadian Horticulturist. 299 



STONE FRUITS. 



TONE Fruits and their Propagation," is the subject of an interesting 

 paper read before the Iowa State Horticultural Society, by Prof. 

 J. L. Budd, of Iowa, which appears in its transactions for 1890. 

 In speaking of the varieties of cherries which succeed in Iowa, he 

 says that in the southern half of the State the varieties which have 

 given satisfaction during the last ten years are the Wragg, Ostheiin 

 Weichel, and Motitmorency Ordinaire. Of the dwarf Russians 

 which have been tested, he says that the Shubianka, on hardy 

 roots and on dry soil, has been successful as far north as the 44th 

 parallel. It belongs to the Vladimir family, and grows in bush form. It bears 

 well at Ames, and he believes that it will have the greatest value. For dessert, 

 or canning, it is better than the English Morello or Wraeg. 



In speaking of the propagation of the cherry, he does not favor the use of the 

 Mahaleb stock, which is largely employed by our Eastern nurserymen, in the bud- 

 ding of almost every catalogued variety. It is, undoubtedly, the most effective 

 dwarfing stock, but on account of its being a distinct species, differing as much 

 from the cultivated cherry in wood, cell-structure, and the habit of flowering as 

 the common apple from the wild crab, or the pear from the thorn, the two woods 

 never make any real union of cells. Some varieties may make very durable trees, 

 if,deeply set, so that the roots will finally be emitted from the scion, but nearly all 

 colored juice varieties make such feeble union as to starve the roots within a 

 few years. 



The Mahaleb is a small wild tree found on sandy knolls and dry rocks over 

 west Europe, with white bark, hard, close-grained, dark-colored wood ; small, 

 black, bitter fruit, and flowering in short racemes. The wood, the leaves, the 

 flowers and fruit are so powerfully scented that it is known everywhere as the 

 " Perfumed cherry." 



The Mazzard stocks of commerce are from the wild red cherry of Europe, 

 which is nearly allied to, and supposed to be the original form, of many of our 

 cultivated varieties, and, in consequence, many of our cultivated varieties unite 

 well with it when grafted or budded upon it. 



The Morello stocks he commends because nearly all hardy varieties, so far as 

 known, unite perfectly with its wood ; indeed, so favorably is he impressed with 

 this stock, that he has decided to employ it largely for his experimental 

 orchard. 



The Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila) of the North-West, under cultivation 

 grows, on rich soil, with sufficient rapidity to make it a suitable stock for bud- 

 ding. It is the hardiest of cherries and is very closely related to our garden 

 varieties. He commends this for trial. 



Speaking of plums, Mr. Budd writes somewhat favorably of Prunus Stmoni^ 



