P Y R 



P Y R 



The method of raising the different sorts of 

 stocks for the purpose is, in the Crab and Ap- 

 ple stocks from the kernels of the fruit ; but in 

 the Cudlin ami Paradise stocks by cuttings and 

 layers, to continue them with certainty of the 

 same kinds and moderate growths. The Crab 

 and Apple stocks may he raised from the kernels 

 of any of the sons, procuring them in autumn 

 or winter, either from t lie fruit, or from such as 

 have been pressed for verjuice and cider, clearing 

 them from the grossest ot the pulp ; then sowing 

 them in beds of light earth, moderately thick, 

 over the bed, or in drills, covering them about 

 an inch deep. They come up in the spring; 

 when, if the season prove drv, they should be 

 watered occasionally, to forward and strengthen 

 the growth of the plants ; and in the autumn, 

 winter, or spring following, the largest mav be 

 planted out in nursery-rows, shortening their 

 tap-roots a little, and placing them in lines 

 two feet and a half asunder, to remain for graft- 

 ing : after having from one to two or three 

 years' growth, they will be tit for grafting upon, 

 particularly for dwarfs, or even for full and half 

 standards, if intended to form the stem from the 

 graft, which is an eligible method for these 

 trees ; but if the stock is to form the stem, they 

 require three or four years' growth, to rise to a 

 proper height, seven feet for full, and four or 

 five for half standards. The modes of grafting 

 all the sorts is the same as for other fruit-trees, 

 and should be performed in March, either by 

 whip- or cleft-grafting, according to the size of 

 the stock. See Grafting. 



Having provided proper grafts of the different 

 sorts of apples intended to Be raised, the stocks 

 designed for dwarfs of all sorts must be grafted 

 within six inches of the ground; and the stand- 

 ards may also be grafted low, one shoot from 

 the graft being trained up for a stem, or on tall 

 stocks, at live or six feet in height, but for low 

 and half standards, at two or three, to four or 

 five feet, and lower for dwarf standards. The 

 grafts of all the sorts shoot the same year; and 

 by the autumn following, the trees having form- 

 ed little heads, consisting of two, three or four 

 shoots, may then be planted out finally where 

 they are to remain, or be retained a year or two, 

 or longer, in the nursery, as may be requisite, 

 training them for the purposes intended, as 

 dwarfs, espaliers, &C., 8cc, and uprights for 

 Standards, heading the dwarfs down in March 

 following, within six inches of the graft, to 

 force out more lateral shoots below to form a 

 fuller head, proceeding immediately to turn them 

 near the bottom, so as to fdl the espalier, &c, 

 equally with branches, quite from within six or 

 eight inches of the ground, regularly upward. In 

 4 



the standards, those grafted low must be trained 

 with one shoot upright, at full length, for a 

 stem, five or six feet high at least, for full Stand- 

 ards, before it is topped; though if grafted "'i 

 tall stocks of height sufficient for a stem, the 

 shoots from the graft mav either he headed to 

 live or six eyes ; or, if 10 form a more spreading 

 head, remain entire, and aspire more in height, 

 and assume a more upright growth : in all the 

 modes of training, care should he taken to keep 

 the stems clear from all lateral shoots, displ.n ini 

 all such as soon as they appear, encour 

 only a proper set of branches at top to form the 

 head. 



When these trees have beads from one to two 

 or three years old from the graft, they are of a. 

 proper age tor final planting out ; though trees 

 of four or five years old will also succeed verv 

 well, and even those of six or eight years' growth 

 mav also be safely planted if required. 



Thenursery-grounds are mostly furnished with 

 all the varieties of these trees for sale, either 

 quite young from the graft, or trained of several 

 years' grow th. 



In choosing the different kinds of trees for 

 planting, care should be taken to have a collec- 

 tion of the principal varieties, both in espaliers 

 and standards, in proportion to the extent of 

 ground, as the trees of the best sorts are as easily 

 raised and cultivated as the indifferent ones, al- 

 lotting a smaller portion of the summer kinds, as 

 such as ripen from August to about the middle of 

 September, for immediate use off the trees, as 

 they will not keep long ; a larger supply of the 

 autumn sorts, and most of all of the principal 

 winter keeping apples : observing, in the sum- 

 mer kinds, that it is advisable to allot a principal 

 supply of the common Codlin in small stand- 

 ards, as being generally both a great bearer, and 

 the fruit the most useful of the summer apples 

 for culinary purposes, from its voung green 

 growth in June or July, till its full maturity in 

 August and September, when it becomes also a 

 good eating apple : and as the tree is a moderate 

 grower, it admits of being planted in small 

 standards closer or more abundant in a small ex- 

 tent of ground than most of the principal apple 

 kinds. 



In choosing apple-trees from the nursery, they 

 should, Mr. Forsyth says, have strong, straight, 

 and clean stems. And he advises not to suffer 

 the dwarf-trees to run higher than twelve feel. 

 as otherwise they become naked at bottom, the 

 fruit is liable to be blown down, and the 

 broken by high winds. 



The proper season for planting all the sorts of 

 apples is in mild weather, from the end of Ot> 

 tobcr till March ; but when planted in autumn, 



