388 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



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MYROBALAN STOCK FOR PLUM TREES. 



Sir, — I value your magazine for the timely hints and accurate statements, some of 

 which I have verified in my own experience. Please inform me what value growers in 

 Ontario place upon the Myrobalan stock for budding, and name localities where planted. 

 I believe they have a tropical origin and may not be sufficiently hardy enough for the plum 

 sections of Ontario. Some years ago, I purchased 150 plum trees from the United States, 

 but in a year or two the bark near the ground separated from the wood and all are now 

 gone. What do you think is the trouble ? 



W. C. Archibald, Wolfville, N. S. 

 Reply by S. D. Willard, Geneva, N. Y. 



The Myrobalan is now almost the only stock used for growing plum trees, 

 for the reason that other stock cannot be obtained. The time was when in 

 Western New York we used almost entirely what is known as the "Horse Plum" 

 seedlings, but the difficulty in growing seedlings of that kind has so increased of 

 late years, that it has been almost impossible to obtain them. The plum is 

 worked with great success on the Myrobalan and grows a fine, strong tree in the 

 nursery. We have had a good deal of experience in the use of this stock of late 

 years. At the same time I very much doubt whether the tree has as much value 

 for orchard purposes as when grown upon the Horse Plum stock. 



In addition to the above, Mr. W. Holton, of Hamilton, says : " I suppose 

 that three-quarters of all the plum trees now offered for sale are worked on the 

 Myrobalan stock. We have used it more or less for several years, and find that 

 it takes the bud readily and makes a good merchantable tree in two three years. 



SUCKERS AS STOCK FOR PROPAGATING PLUM TREES. 



Sir, — What is the objection, if any, to setting out young plum trees that have sprung 

 up from old roots ? During the present season there are dozens of these which have sprung 

 up in my garden and are now 2| and 3 feet high, and about as large as one's little finger. 

 I thought of putting out these strong, handsome, little shoots, and grafting them. 



J. Howe Bent, ChiUiwack, B. C. 



Reply by W. Holton, Hamilton. 



The chief objections to using suckers as stock for propagating plum trees, are 

 the increased tendency to sucker again and the habit of throwing out roots on 

 one side only. Healthy seedlings can be obtained at such reasonable rates, that 

 there seems to be no reason for using suckers. 



