8 
NOTES ON PLUM CULTURE. 
gence resulting in races which possess distinctive and well- 
marked characters. 
Some knowledge, therefore, of the history and de¬ 
rivation of varieties is essential to the propagator in order 
that he may make intelligent selection of the stocks upon 
which to work his profitable varieties. Successful propaga¬ 
tors, well versed in the history of varieties, and in the prin¬ 
ciples of culture will, however, often differ in their estimate 
of available stocks, just as they will differ on methods of 
practice. Strong growing varieties are not suited to very 
slow growing stocks because they over-top them and the 
trees are short lived. On the other hand success does not 
follow the attempt to force a slow-growing variety by work¬ 
ing it upon a rank-growing stock. The nearer the variety 
to be grafted corresponds with the stock to be used in gen¬ 
eral habit and vigor of growth, the better will be the pros¬ 
pects for health and longevity in the tree. 
Figures i and 2, Plate I, illustrate an overgrowing of the 
stock that is not uncommon. Pdgure 1 is a Yellow Sweet, (Pru- 
nus Americana ,) planted in 1894. The enlargement just above 
the union is marked, and it is increasing each year. Figure 
2 is a Wolf (Primus Americana) tree of uncertain age, 
probably 14 or 15 years old, in which the enlargement is still 
more marked. We have no information as to the stocks 
used in either of these cases, but the fact that there is not 
perfect affinity between the varieties and their stocks is 
apparent. 
For the European plums such as Lombard, Green Gage, 
and Bradshaw probably no stock is better than seedlings of 
some variety of the species from which these varieties came 
—Primus domestica. These have been in common use for 
many years, but in recent years have been in some degree 
superseded by Myrobalan stocks (seedlings of Prunus 
cerasifera, a species of European origin). Myrobalan stocks 
are in common use in European countries and have rapidly 
grown in favor with our nurserymen, not because better 
trees can be grown upon them, but because it is easier to se¬ 
cure good Myrobalan than good domestica stocks. Seeds 
of domestica varieties that will produce an even stand of 
stocks is difficult to obtain, and the Myrobalan, which is 
easier to grow and less liable to injury from parasitic fungi, 
offers an acceptable substitute. Some nurserymen import 
the seeds and grow their own stocks, others find it more 
profitable to import the seedlings. They are usually re¬ 
ceived during the winter, planted in nursery rows in spring, 
and budded in July and August. In the south the stocks in 
