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558 



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for a few years, "out not permanently. [ but I have ample reason to believe that 

 The pear tree affords a stock of tliis this opinion is wholly erroneous, and 

 kind to the apple, and I have had a this kind of hardiness in the root alone 

 heavy crop from a graft inserted in a j never can be a quality of any value in 

 tall pear stock, only twenty months , a stock, for the branches of every spe- 

 previously, when every blossom of the , cies of tree are much more easily de- 

 same variety of fruit in the orchard was stroyed by frost than its roots. 



destroyed by frost. The fruit thus ob 



Many believe also that a peach 



tained was perfect externally, and pos- I tree, when grafted upon its native 

 sessed all its ordinary qualities; but : stock, very soon perishes; but my ex- 

 the cores were black, without seed ; perience does not further support this 

 and every blossom would have fallen , conclusion than that it [)roves seedling 

 abortively, if growing upon its native peach trees, when growing in a very 

 stock. The graft perished the winter : rich soil, to be greatly injured, and 

 following. often killed, by the excessive use of the 



" My own experience induces me to ' pruning-knife upon their branches, 

 think very highly of the excellence of! when these are confined to too narrow 



the apricot stock for the peach or 

 nectarine ; but whenever that or the 

 plum stock is employed,! am confident 

 the bud cannot be inserted too near the 

 ground, if vigorous and durable trees 

 are required. 



" The form and habit which a peach 

 tree, of any given variety, is disposed 



limits. I think the stock, in this in- 

 stance, can only act injuriously by sup- 

 plying more nutriment than can be 

 expended ; for the root which nature 

 gives to each seedling plant must be 

 well, if not best, calculated for its sup- 

 port; and the chief general conclusions 

 which experience has enabled me to 



to assume, is very much influenced by ! draw safely are, that a stock of species 



the kind of stock on which it is budded 

 If upon a plum or apricot stock, its 

 stem will increase in size considerably 

 as its base approaches the stock, and it 

 will be much disposed to emit many 

 lateral shoots, as always occurs in 

 trees whose stems taper considerably 

 upwards ; consequently, such a tree 



or genus different from that of the fruit 

 to be grafted upon it, can be used rare- 

 ly with advantage, unless where the 

 object of the planter is to restrain and 

 debilitate ; and where stocks of the 

 same species with the bud or graft are 

 used, it will be found advantageous, 

 generally, to select such as approxi- 



will be more disposed to spread itself ' mate in their habits and slate of change, 

 horizontally, than to ascend to the top ' or improvement from cultivation, those 

 of the wall, even when a single stem is I of the variety of fruit which they are 

 sufiered to stand perpendicularly. On intended to support." 

 the contrary, where a peach is budded I The only situation in which I can 

 upon a stock of some cultivated variety ' believe that the stock of another spe- 

 of its own species, the stock and the j cies can be advantageously employed, 

 budded stem remain very nearly of the ' is where the soil happens to be un- 

 same size at the point of junction, as ' friendly to the species from which the 

 well as above and below. No obstacle ' bud or scion is taken. This is justified 

 is presented to the ascent or descent by my observing that, in a garden so 

 of the sap, which appears to rise more low lying as to be very subject to an 

 abundantly to the summit of the tree. | overflow of water, the only pear trees 

 It appears, also, to flow more freely j which were at all productive were those 

 into the slender branches, which have grafted upon quince stocks, and the 

 been the bearing wood of preceding quince is well known to endure water 

 years; and these extend, consequently, much better than either the apple or 

 very widely compared with the bulk oft pear. — Princ. of Card. 



the stock and large branches. 



Stocks for general use may be used 



When a stock of the same species for grafting or budding, when from the 

 with the graft or bud, but of a variety size of a good goosequill to half an 

 far less changed by cultivation, is em- inch, or not more than an inch in the 

 ployed, its effects are very nearly allied part where the graft or bud is to be in- 

 to those produced by a stock of another serted. Stocks of two or three inches, 

 species or genus. Some think the stock , or more, diameter, either the stems or 

 influences the hardiness of the scion ; branches, are also occasionally grafted 



