60 YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 



production of good stocks is the first great aim of intelligent 

 cultivators. The apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot, and 

 nectarine stock, are grown from seed ; but the Doucin anil 

 Paradise for Dwarf Apple-trees, and the Quince for Dwarf 

 Pears are usually produced from layers. We have thus far 

 been able to grow cherry and common apple stock in sufficient 

 quantity for our use, but are compelled to import pear and 

 plum seedlings and stocks for the dwarf pear, apple and cherry. 

 The most important of all these is the pear, which we have to 

 import largely, because in this country the young seedling is 

 attacked by a fungus or blight which destroys it at a tender 

 age. Although no absolute remedy for this " leaf blight" is 

 likely to be hit upon, very thin sowing of seed on a deep, dry, 

 fresh soil never before occupied by trees, and unremitting care 

 and good cultivation during the early stages of growth, act in 

 some wise as preventives against the malady. Our nursery 

 men now grow on one acre as many seedlings, especially the 

 apple, pear, and plum, as should rightfully be assigned to five, 

 and the result is, a growth of weak, spindling trees. Well- 

 grown pear and apple stocks should be always ready for the 

 nursery rows at one year old. If they are not, another year's 

 occupancy of the same place will not generally add much to 

 their value. Apple stocks may, perhaps, remain two years in a 

 place, but pears must be transplanted. The lecturer then de 

 scribed the stocks in common use for grafting, dwelling for a 

 moment to sketch the difficulties which attended the introduc 

 tion of the quince stock for dwarf pears into this country. Ex 

 perience has established the fact that the two French quinces, 

 the Angers, and Paris or Fontenay, are best for pear grafting. 

 The former is most vigorous, and of rapid growth when young; 

 the latter more hardy. Some pears succeed best on one, some 

 on the other. Stocks are good when half to three-quarters of 

 an inch in diameter, and can be obtained from cuttings, layers, 

 or by the earthing-up practice. To obtain strong stocks, plant 



