THE PARADISE, DOUCIN, AND CRAB STOCKS. 357 



Paradise. 



"Eootsmucliramifiedandtidy, short, 

 remaining near the surface, and never 

 tap-rooted. Shrub, bush-like, much 

 branched, the branchlets rather long, 

 and ^rith a lateral tendency, the adults 

 covered with a smooth bark of a reddish 

 colour ; lightly pubescent in the case 

 ofthe young shoots. Leaves lanceolate, 

 elliptical, of a light green above and 

 velvety beneath, finely denticulated, 

 acuminate at the ends, but principally 

 at the base. Petiole broadish and 

 channelled. Calyx, with divisions 

 acuminated and recurved, often con- 

 torted, as long as the peduncle. Petals 

 straightly elongated at the base, faintly 

 keeled, borne on a thin base, prolonged 

 into a sort of keel. Ovary on a slender 

 base, pubescent. Fruit higher than 

 broad, lightly ribbed, skin white, flesh 

 sweetish, almost insipid ; ripening in 

 July." It flowers more abundantly, 

 and eight days earlier, than the Doucin. 



DouciN-. 



" Roots rather long and strong, tap- 

 rooted. Tree not much ramified, 

 straight in its growth, with branch- 

 lets short, large, in adult specimens 

 covered with a deep dull brown bark ; 

 very tomentose, and whitened in the 

 case of the young shoots. Leaves 

 broadly oval or nearly oboval, lightly 

 blistered, shining on the upper and 

 pubescent on the lower surface, rather 

 broadly denticulated, scarcely acumi- 

 nate at the apex, abruptly contracted 

 and round at the base. Petiole broad, 

 scarcely channelled. Calyx with divi- 

 sions usually horizontal, occasionally 

 recurved, rather large. Petals sub- 

 oval, nearly blistered, keeled, borne on 

 a base short and rather broad. Ovary 

 on a stout support, covered with a to- 

 mentose down, white and thick. Fruit 

 depressed, broader than high, not 

 ribbed, the skin of an intense green, 

 marked here and there with brownish 

 spots : fiesh of a high and agreeable 

 flavour; ripening in August." 



The Paradise stock has been known in France for between 

 200 and 300 years. The Doucin wonld appear to be not 

 quite so ancient^ but has been known for at least 160 years. 

 It is used to form neat low trees,, pyramids^ wall^, espalier^ 

 and even standard trees less vigorous and more suitable for 

 gardens than those grafted on the Crab^ or commonest 

 stock; and occasionally for cordons on bad and very 

 poor and dry soils. It is most probably a vigorous and 

 deep-rooting variety of the same species as the Paradise^ 

 healthy everywhere^ and succeeding well on some very dry 

 and poor soils, where in consequence of its habit of surface 

 rooting the Paradise would suffer and prove useless. Apples 

 grafted upon it come into bearing earlier than upon the 

 Crab, and it is admirable for all forms of garden trees 

 in size intermediate between the very dwarf cordons and 

 bushes, and the tall and vigorous orchard trees. 



The Crab stock it is needless to describe. It is the 

 stock on which our Apples have been grafted for ages, and 

 which is the only one employed in the majority of British 

 gardens. It is the natural stock for the Apple, and that 

 on which it grows with greatest vigour; but it takes a 



