90 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



so-called ' Free ' or ' Crab ' stocks for standard apple trees. The 

 publication of the report of progress made in the researches on 

 free stocks at Long Ashton by Professor B. T. P. Barker, M.A., and 

 G. T. Spinks, B.A. (see Journal R.H.S. xliii. p. 546), enforces the 

 same conclusion. There is, in fact, a long series of types in these 

 varying from the root system almost entirely composed of small 

 fibres, to that which consists mainly of three or four coarse fangy 

 roots. Our Paradise Types III. (possibly ' Dutch Doucin ') and V. 

 (' Improved Doucin ') approximate to the purely fibrous type, whilst 

 Type II. ('Doucin' commonly called 'English Paradise') comes at 

 the other end of the series. 



At this station we have also had a number of free stocks under 

 observation for the past six years, and a similar complete series of root 

 systems could be selected from these. They would so provide any- 

 thing from an exaggerated dwarf up to a vigorous standard tree. At 

 the extreme ends of any such series both the " all fibre " system and 

 the " few coarse fangy roots " produce dwarfing growth, but it would 

 nevertheless be possible to select a series of stocks capable of being 

 propagated vegetatively, and consequently always true to type and 

 therefore uniform, which would suit every requirement from the garden 

 dwarf to the orchard standard. Several of our stronger Paradise types 

 such as Types XIII. and XVI. are readily propagated from layers 

 or cuttings, yet they appear very strong in growth and to possess 

 an anchorage in the ground sufficient for any orchard tree. 



The apple stock problem should therefore be nearer a solution 

 as regards the free stocks as well as the dwarfing stocks than might at 

 present be supposed. There is no doubt that a great deal of work 

 yet remains to be done in the selection of the best types to resist 

 disease, and to suit particular soils, and the best methods of propaga- 

 tion ; it may even be necessary to breed new types in order to obtain 

 the very best results. In the meantime it should be possible to 

 select out of the collections at Bristol and East Mailing a satisfactory . 

 series of stocks that will do much to give increased uniformity and 

 health to every class of apple tree. 



Though botanical descriptions of the blossom and fruit of a Paradise 

 Stock may appear to be somewhat abstruse, yet the work of classifica- 

 tion in itself opens up a wide field for practical advance. The 

 pomologist should take his proper p^ce as an essential link in the 

 chain connecting up fruit research work with economic progress. 

 There should be a far stricter and more systematic record kept of 

 ' varietal ' difference than is at present the case. 



The following descriptions of fruit of the various types of Paradise 

 Apple Stocks is compiled from notes taken by Mr. J. Amos and myself 

 from young trees on their own roots, planted in February 1913 and 

 trained as single cordons. These cordons, however, have never been 

 very severely pruned because we were anxious to obtain a few specimen 

 fruits as soon as possible. 



I think after several seasons we can fairly claim to have got 



