HOKTICULTUEAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 



23 



stocks indicate that patch budding and crown grafting are the most 

 successful methods to be employed. Ring budding gives reasonably 

 good results, but with this method more buds are lost after the 

 union has been formed than is the case with patch budding. 



A large number of seedlings of the native black walnut (Juglans 

 nigra) were grown by Mr. F. F. Collins, and several of these trees 

 have been budded. With the exception of the first year, the winter 

 of 1911-12, when the young growth was frozen back, a good growth 

 has been obtained. A sufficient number are being grown at this 

 time to demonstrate the value of this stock. 



Stone fruits. — Native plums are being used experimentally as 

 stocks for stone fruits. The sorts commonly known as Tenehah 



Fig. 7. — Two rows of A mygdalus davidiana, a peach from China introduced by the Office of Foreign 

 Seed and Plant Introduction, which is a very promising stock for stone fruits. These trees were set 

 out in January, 1909. (Photographed September 16, 1913.) 



(Prunus munsonii), American (Prunus americana), and hog {Prunus 

 rivularis) are included in this test. It is not expected that all of 

 these species will be useful on a large scale, but the vigorous growth 

 of the different species under very adverse conditions on the lime- 

 stone hills about San Antonio proves their hardiness. 



A wild peach from China (Amygdalus davidiana, S. P. I. 21227), 

 which bears a fruit of no value, has proved to be unusually well 

 adapted to San Antonio conditions. (See fig. 7.) So far it has 

 proved to be resistant to both chlorosis and root-rot. One orchard 

 of about 30 trees, set in January, 1909, has survived without the 

 loss by disease of a single tree. This species is being tested as a 

 stock for peaches, plums, almonds, and apricots. The only serious 

 drawback of this tree so far noted has been its failure to produce 



