328 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



ter on the quince stock than others, but all are 

 similarly affected in assuming a diminished ha- 

 bit, and most of them an increase in fertility. 



Pear stocks are obtained by sowing the seeds 

 of the cultivated pear, and are, to distinguish 

 them from those produced by sowing the seeds 

 of the wild pear, called free pear stocks, while 

 the others are called wild pear stocks. They are 

 both more hardy and more durable, and hence 

 adapted for standard trees in the formation of 

 orchards. On the Continent great attention is 

 paid to the different kinds of stocks, which nur- 

 serymen form into three classes to suit intend- 

 ing purchasers. The quince stock is propagated 

 from layers, which no doubt adds to its property 

 of dwarfing the trees for which it is used. 



Most cultivators bud such pears as are in- 

 tended for standards or for walls, and graft those 

 intended to be grown as dwarfs, as in the latter 

 case the tree divides into branches the first 

 year, and is at the end of that period almost as 

 far advanced in its formation as a budded tree 

 will be at the end of the second year. 



Apple stocks. — The stocks employed for the 

 apple are the wild crab, which is procured by 

 sowing the seeds of the most healthy wildings 

 found in the woods. It is the most durable, 

 and least subject to canker. The free stock is 

 the produce of seeds of the cultivated apple, 

 and ranks next to the former in durability and 

 hardihood. The doucin, or paradise stock, is 

 preferred for dwarf standard trees and espaliers. 

 It is less durable than the crab stock, is reared by 

 layers, and succeeds better in a rather rich moist 

 soil than in a poor dry one. The French stock 

 is also reared by laying, and is the most diminu- 

 tive of all stocks— used principally for trees to be 

 grown in pots, or planted as miniature orchards. 

 Budding is preferred for apples intended for full 

 standards, the bud being inserted within 9 inches 

 of the ground ; while those intended for dwarfs, 

 espaliers, and most of the delicate-growing sorts, 

 are grafted for reasons already given. 



The Paradise stock, like the quince, has the 

 natural property of emitting numerous fibrous 

 roots near the surface of the ground, and also 

 of controlling the vigour of the graft, and in- 

 ducing an earlier state of bearing in the tree. 

 There are three varieties of Paradise stocks 

 used on the Continent — viz., the Doucin, Pomme 

 de Paradise, and the Pomme de St Jean. The 

 two former are used for different purposes— the 

 first for dwarf trees, and the second for pyra- 

 midal ones. It is, however, rather too delicate 

 for our climate, unless in the most favoured 

 situations, though of all others the best for trees 

 to be grown in pots. The Pomme de St Jean 

 is of a hardier character than the true Paradise, 

 although not quite so dwarf. The Doucin is 

 much more vigorous, and, with the English 

 Paradise stock, the most worthy of our attention 

 for the production of fruitful pyramids. 



Apricot stocks. — The stocks usually employed 

 for this purpose are, the common plum, the 

 muscle plum, the pear plum, the common apri- 

 cot, and the Brussels or St Julian stock, which 

 latter is preferred for standard or rider trees. 

 The first of these is obtained by sowing the 

 stones of that plum, and is regarded as one of 



the best for the purpose, and hence very exten- 

 sively employed ; the second from seeds of the 

 pear plum, so called from the shape of the fruit; 

 the third from stones of any of the cultivated 

 sorts, but it is considered inferior to stocks from 

 various species of plums ; the last has been long 

 used in this country, and is well adapted for the 

 apricot, but not for peaches, being too full of 

 sap at the budding season. The late Mr Knight 

 anticipates that, by budding the Moorpark apri- 

 cot upon the apricot stock, it would, become 

 hardier, and less subject to that disease or state 

 of debility which is supposed to be the cause of 

 its branches dying off during summer. Rogers, 

 who is an excellent practical authority, says 

 there are two stocks the Moorpark may be 

 wrought on — viz., the muscle for dwarf trees, 

 and the Brussels for riders and standards. 



Plum stocks. — The plum is wrought upon the 

 Brussels stock and common plum stock, and 

 apparently with equal advantage. 



Peach and nectarine stocks. — "These are 

 usually propagated by budding only, and the 

 stocks used are either the Brompton stock, 

 muscle plum, or pear plum. The latter is the 

 best, and therefore used for French peaches and 

 others of our finer sorts. It is said that peaches 

 wrought upon the pear plum stock are much 

 less liable to mildew than those upon the com- 

 mon muscle stock ; the muscle is the best for Eng- 

 lish peaches. The Brompton stock is strongly 

 disapproved of by Mr G. Lindley, who says : 

 ' Where trees of a permanent character are re- 

 quired, the substitution of such a stock cannot 

 be too strongly condemned.' On the other 

 hand, Rogers — by no means a slight authority — 

 as well as the most eminent nurserymen, are of a 

 different opinion. It may have happened that 

 a dislike to the Brompton stock arose from see- 

 ing the fate of apricots budded upon it, for 

 which fruit it is ill adapted and unsuitable. 

 The late Mr Ronalds says : ' I have no reason to 

 think that the Brompton stock will not bear as 

 fine fruit, and last as long, as either the muscle 

 or pear plum, if budded low for dwarfs.' " 



Quince stocks. — The quince is generally pro- 

 pagated by layers, where the object is to pro- 

 cure them for stocks for pears. If laid during 

 winter, the plants will be rooted by the follow- 

 ing autumn, when they should be transplanted 

 into nursery lines, when in two years they will 

 be fit for grafting. They are also propagated by 

 cuttings, put in during winter ; and the better 

 varieties, intended to be cultivated for their 

 fruit, are grafted, the stem being trained to a 

 clean rod to the height of 4 or 5 feet. 



Almond stocks. — The plum stock is preferred 

 for cold and wet soils to those of the peach or 

 the almond itself, being much hardier than they. 

 The peach stock is thought by Mr R. Thomson 

 to be less durable than the almond, and more 

 apt to die off in this case, as they are apt to do 

 when used as a stock for the peach and necta- 

 rine. Almond stocks are procured by sowing 

 the seeds when the object is to grow them for 

 stocks, as well as for obtaining new varieties. 



Cherry stocks. — The small black or wild red 

 cherry of our woods is generally chosen for this 

 purpose. The Morello cherry has been recom- 



