1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 399 



it is said, on sandy, shallow, or chalky soil, while the Plum is said to 

 be the best suited for heavy clayey soils. 



As already stated, I prefer budding as the best and easiest means 

 of propagating existing varieties. Any of the many methods in gene- 

 ral practice among horticulturists will be found to suit very well, as 

 in all cases I prefer the easiest and simplest modes, so long as the re- 

 sults are satisfactory. In the propagation of the Peach and Nectarine 

 I prefer that style of budding which is known as shield or T bud- 

 ding. In former papers I have fully explained how this operation is 

 performed, so the reader can easily refer to them for details. 



The time for budding the Peach varies according to circumstances. 

 The best rule to observe is, that the stock and bud are both ready as 

 soon as the bark parts freely from the wood. From the middle of 

 July to the middle of August this will, generally speaking, be the 

 case — in England during the former month, and in Scotland the end 

 of the former or early part of the latter month. In the selection of 

 buds, care must be exercised so as to use nothing but wood-buds, for 

 should flower-buds be taken, certain failure will be the result. Prac- 

 tical experience alone will teach the cultivator the difference between 

 the two, so that he will be able to go about his work with confidence. 

 I may say, however, that the wood-bud is sharp, slender, and pointed, 

 while the flower-bud is plump, full, and round. By attending to the 

 above rule, the novice may attempt the operation of budding the Peach 

 and Nectarine, and find his labours crowned with a considerable amount 

 of success. The great secret of either budding or grafting is in having 

 at least one edge of the bark of the scion or bud fitting exactly into the 

 bark of the stock, so that the sap in passing upwards may pass directly 

 into the bud, there to become elaborated, after which it will fully cement 

 the union between itself and the stock. Budding may be performed 

 after the periods I have specified under certain conditions. It is a well- 

 known fact, that while the bark of a tree will not rise from the wood 

 until a certain period of the year, so it is also as well known that after a 

 certain time it again refuses to rise. After the periods specified above 

 such will be the case, but should it have occurred from unforeseen circum- 

 stances — from want of time or any other cause that might present itself 

 — the operation may be performed with success in the following man- 

 ner: in taking off the bud, a thin slice of wood should be allowed to ad- 

 here, which should be cut as thin as possible, and quite flat and smooth. 

 After this the bud is inserted into its position, care being taken that 

 the inner bark shall be in close contact with the cambium of the stock, 

 without which no union can take place. The height at which the bud 

 should be inserted will be determined according to the sort of tree that 

 is required. Dwarf trees should have the bud inserted at not a greater 



