NOTES ON PLUM CULTURE. 
9 
common use are the Marianna plum and the peach, and 
very diverse opinions as to their relative merits have been 
expressed. Probably the differences arise from varying 
local conditions, for the testimony at hand indicates that on 
the light and dry soils the peach stock does best, while the 
Myrobalan is better suited to the heavier and more moist 
soils. Even at the north the peach meets with some favor 
as a stock for plums on light soils, but it is too tender for 
districts where severe winters are common. Por the native 
varieties. Wolf, Weaver, De Soto and other derivatives of 
Pruniis Americana, the natural inference that Americana 
stocks would be best seems to be borne out by experience, 
but the degree of success may depend in a measure upon 
the seed used. The species is extremely variable in general 
habit and rapidity of growth as well as in the fruit produced. 
Seeds from which to grow stocks should be chosen from 
vigorous free-growing trees only. The progeny of such 
trees will most nearly accord with the varieties to be propa- 
gated and better insure the future of the tree. Seeds are 
obtained in the fall, separated from the pulp, mixed with 
sand and kept in a cool, moist place, during the winter. If 
they can be frozen and thawed several times, so much the 
better, for they will then more readily crack under the pres- 
sure of the swelling embryo. 
In spring they are sown in seed beds of deeply stirred 
rich soil. In the fall the seedlings are lifted, sorted and 
packed away in sand in a cool pit or cellar. The following 
spring they may be planted in nursery rows to be budded in 
July and August. The commencement of the budding sea- 
son is determined by the maturity of the scion buds to be 
used; they are buds of the current }^ear’s production and 
must be well matured. Budding may be continued as long 
as the bark will “slip,” and this as well as the maturation of 
the scion buds will be largely influenced by weather condi- 
tions. The length of the budding season may, therefore, 
vary greatly in different years. Usually the season with 
plums is shorter than with peaches or apples. About ten 
days after insertion the buds should be examined and the 
bands loosened if necessary. Where buds have failed to 
unite, the stocks may be rebudded and this maybe repeated 
as often as the length of the season will allow. Late in the 
fall stocks on which buds have failed should be taken up 
and stored for grafting in late winter or early spring. When 
growth starts in the spring the budded stocks must receive 
prompt attention. The stock must be “headed down,” that 
is, cut off above the bud, and here practice varies somewhat. 
