TOB. ABATOR.
NEW METHOD OF PERPETUATING T1IE
PLUM. -
. ' '
' BY ISAAC BEAGLES.
Nurserymen are generally very unsuccessful in
propagating the plum .on an extensive scale. The
great difficulty consists in the buds refusing to
take, with sufficient tenacity, to become a compo
nent of the stock. Sometimes in budding plums,
a portion of the wood or bark will attach itself
permanently to the stock $ but this portion, in
most cases, is not the part which contains the bud.
As the season for budding the plum tree is quite
short, the only remedy remaining for stock, on
which the budsliavc failed, is to engraft the 'ensu
ring spring; but engrafting the plum is an equally
unsuccessful operation, licnco the difficulty that is
experienced ia getting a saleable stock of plum
trees. .
Having devoted special attention to raising plui.i-
trecs, for tho, wholesale trade, for the last ten years,
became necessary for mo to devise some method
that would facilitate the increase of stock., I had
often observed that tho buds invariably rrew bet-
ter on wood or the current season's formation, than
that of the previous year. Taking advantage of
this fact, I subsequently sought the new wood, when
practicable, in which to insert tho buds ; the only
fault with this method was, that the trees were
worked so high on tho body of the stock, that in
tho case of rapid growing kind.-?, the scion out
grew the bottom, thus making unsightly and rath
er unsaleable trees.
I have practiced a method with great success
for several years, by which I secure the principle
of budding in new wood, and at the same time,
work tho stocks within an inch of the grouud.
In tho first place, care must be observed to pro
cure none but sound, fresh seed. In the month of
November, the ground must be prepared for the
reception of tho pits. This is performed by plow
ing a deep trench. -(The soil should be a rather
stiff loam, which may be afterward deepened to
eighteen inches with a spade. This trench must
be partially filled with a compost made from ex
citing manures, and before using should be thor
oughly decayed and frequently turned over in the
heap, so as to be well incorporated. On this com
post an inch or two of earth may be thrown, after
which scatter tho seed thinly, but let it compass
the entire width of the trench. On the top of the
ccod, I throw coarso gray sand, such n3 is used in '
i . " mm' ' m.
uvuir. oaau rcraauu perfectly friublo, j
and does not oppose the shooting stem of the
young plants, when - vegetation takes place in the
ensuing spring, and it tiho prevents for a time the
growth of weeds, thereby permitting the seedlings
to get the start of foul stuff, which, with a little
attention, they will maintain throughout the sea
son. The object of this peculiar cultivation, is to
force the seedlings into an average growth of two
feet the first summer, and by the first of August,
they arc all in fine budding condition, still grow
ing rapidly j the bark springs.froni the, knife, and
aflbrds ready admission to the bud, which if care
uiny inscneu win not Jose live per cent. I have a
field of plum seedlings budded the past season,
which will average two and a half font in l,J
m W W II A A All
and scarcely a bud exhibits symptoms of decay.
The subsequent culture is cxeccdinelv simn! Tim
budded trees are permitted to form their first s.
sons growth in the seed bed. Many of them will
nuain tne niiit;: :0 of six and seven" feef.V They
aro then transplanted into the nursery rows, whero'
they may remain one or two yr '". ail will, by the
expiration of that time, be fit i r . ' . Jt Jt were
not for adopting this plan, my . t. cost '
half a dollar each, to grow for market.
lawn Gardens, Schenectady, KYI
Ar. Y. Horticultural llcvki:.
A Georgia-: horticulturist- writjps us that he has
a newsecdling strv berry, which he intends send
ing out the ensuing seasod, that will create con
sideraW sensation among thc consumers of straw
berries, aw ML He says it is a cross between -J?
Ross's Phoenix and a native of Alabama.
"This new strawberry is of the hautboy order,"
immensely large, flesh very firm, and of more ex-
i in i i (i 111 ! rnnti t e mm
vj.tt,OA uinii.uiiu new pine, and-with my -cullure
is a continuous bearer. I believe It tho.
finest strawberry' ever produced. ' The -plant
is hermaphrodite in its character, fruit stalks
verv tall and 'ornM. wtiK
w i wv..u ..will Ijiilc 11 -
five inches in length, being highly ornamental as "
wed ns delicioirs. As-soon as the fruit ripens I
will send you some, per exuress. mid nlilmnk Vrt,i'
may not H it in its 'freshness, vm, w;n u nii.j
to ludge soinetlnng of its qualitv."
inu luuur couuuning me extra etas above, wo
' 7,U1 uiusMim oi me plant. Although but a
skeleton of what it had been, it. abundantly verified
tne statement of extranrd
the largest strawberry blossom we have ever seen.
N e intend, at an carlv dnr. in
tion of-the berry and foliage, also an. accurate de
scnption of the plant. We fnrhonr
we, shall have realized our correspondent's promise
of specimens,, Avheu we sholl take pleasum in in
krunbg our rcadoM of o very particular. ' .' "v