PARADISE APPLE STOCKS. 
363 
striking differences and relative values are likely to show themselves 
in the various types of so-called " dwarfing stocks." 
Though it is impossible to give any final judgments at present, 
it was thought worth while to issue a statement of the results so far 
obtained. 
These results warn fruit-growers and nurserymen of errors which 
are occurring in the raising of young fruit trees — errors which bid fair 
to be of far greater moment to the maturing tree than has heretofore 
been realized. It is hoped that the following facts may reinforce 
the injunction of Thomas Hitt, and be the basis upon which really 
valuable comparative facts may be collected with regard to the best 
uses of the various Paradise stocks, and the wider question of the 
whole relationship betwixt stock and scion. 
The first essential in dealing with this question was to collect 
the various forms of Paradise in common use at the present time. 
This was undertaken with the full knowledge that previous collec- 
tions had been made, but it was felt that unfortunately the work 
had never been carried to its logical conclusion. 
III. Previous Undertakings of a Similar Nature. 
Literature current about the middle of last century bears witness 
to a reviving interest in questions pertaining to the stock and scion. 
From about 1840 articles appeared intermittently in the Gardeners* 
Chronicle upon the subject. In 1863 there appeared an article on 
"Seedling Apples" by Thomas Rivers, which gave details of the 
raising of his Paradise stocks, and in 1864 an account was published 
of a bush plantation of Apples on the " English Paradise Stock " at 
Mr. Rivers' nursery. The whole tone of the article goes to show that 
this was then a most uncommon sight. One passage is perhaps worth 
quoting : " The trees are at present scarcely three feet in height ; they 
are planted as many feet apart each way, and all of them are bearing 
fruit."* One wonders what this very dwarfing stock was, and how 
far the precocity may have been aided by transplanting. From this 
time onward great interest was directed towards the Paradise stock, 
its origin and its varieties. The year 1869 marks the culminating 
point, when the matter aroused very keen controversy. The series 
of articles in the Gardeners' Chronicle in that year are chiefly interesting 
as showing : 
(1) That there was then very great difference of opinion as to the 
respective values of the various forms of Paradise stock. 
(2) That there was even then considerable doubt as to their identi- 
fication and true nomenclature. 
(3) That various new seedling ' Paradise ' stocks were being raised 
and tested by several nurserymen. 
(4) That the name ' English Paradise ' was being used somewhat 
indiscriminately for " surface-rooting seedling apples " raised in this 
country. 
* Gard. Chron. 1864, p. 799. 
