472 PLUMS. 



those which are of a more moderate growth will attain 

 that height the following year. For dwarfs, as I have 

 observed before, those which are obtained by grafting 

 are to be preferred. 



The Common stock possesses sufficient vigour, if 

 planted on a good soil, to throw up its shoot standard 

 high the first year after cutting down, and may be 

 budded the second either with Apricots or the weaker 

 growing Plums : these make not only handsome but 

 durable standards. 



DAMSONS AND BULLACE. 



The Prune Damsons and White Bullace should be 

 budded upon the Muscle stock, as they succeed much 

 better upon it than upon any other. If budded nine 

 inches from the ground, upon vigorous stocks, they will 

 grow five or six feet high the first year, and make fine 

 standards the year following ; or they may be budded 

 standard high upon stocks which have been cut down 

 for the purpose, the same as directed for standard 

 Peaches and Nectarines. 



Pruning and Training. 



Open Standards. 



Open standards of Plums should be chosen, such as 

 are straight and clean in their stems, with regular heads 

 of four equally strong well-placed shoots. If the trees 

 have been planted in the autumn, they will, by the fol- 

 lowing April, have made fresh roots, and their buds will 

 begin to push ; they must at this time be headed down 

 to three or four inches, after which they will furnish 

 three or four others from each shoot. 



If, however, at the next winter pruning a sufficient 



