200 THE FLORIST AND 



Our indigenous M. acuminata possesses all the requisites for this 

 purpose. Of itself, it is a most beautiful tree. As a stock, it improves 

 every variety and species budded or engrafted on it — at least so far as my 

 acquaintance extends. 



The M. tripetala, propagated on its own roots, will grow very luxuri- 

 antly for a few years in this vicinity, when the main stock will suddenly die, 

 without any apparent cause. A number of less healthy sprouts will appear 

 in its place the ensuing year, and after a short duration will in turn die, 

 and their places will be filled with a succession of weakly growths, till at 

 length the crown and roots will likewise perish. If propagated on the M. 

 acuminata, I have no doubt this would be obviated, and the tripetala would 

 become one of our most lofty and enduring species. 



The M. grandiflora is only half hardy at Philadelphia ; yet I am inclined 

 to hope, that if p opagated on the acuminata, and slight protection afforded 

 it dur'ng winter, it may be made to live both at New York and Cleveland. 

 It is worthy of trial. 



In the vicinity of the latter city, the M. glauca, conspicua, soulangeana, 

 purpurea, and Thompsonii, reared on their own roots, assume a shrubby or 

 dwarfish habit ; but the first three named, I have propagated on the stock 

 of the acuminata, and they are all attaining the size and habits of middling 

 sized trees. The latter two I have no doubt will pursue a similar course, 

 under the same mode of propagation which I am about to extend to them. 



There are several species and varieties which I have not been able to 

 obtain, that would succeed equally well in this locality, if treated in this 

 manner. Among them are the Macrophylla, cordata, and auriculata. 



The acuminata, or "the cucumber tree," as it is termed at the west, will 

 doubtless take the place of all other kinds for stocks. Seeds in any 

 quantity can be procured in some parts of the western States. They should 

 be procured at the time the capsules begin to open ; and without permitting 

 them to dry, they should be mixed with rotten-wood or moist earth, in which 

 condition they may be shipped to any part of the globe. The seedlings 

 may be fit to engraft or inoculate, when two or three years old. 



A week or two before they form their terminal buds, say about the 12th 

 of July at Cleveland, buds inserted after the mode of inoculating the 

 cherry, will frequently take. They should be tied in with coarse woolen 

 yarn, in preference to bass-bark. The better method to propagate the 

 kinds on this stock is by side grafting. 



For this purpose, the scions should be cut in February, and preserved in 

 the usual method. Early in April, in this vicinity, they should be inserted. 



