72 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



haps earlier than this is best for those which are most diffi- 

 cult to grow. Let them be frequently watered, when the 

 ground is dry. The twigs used for this purpose should be 

 of good straight growth ; but not such as are suckers, as is 

 said by some. 



Appletrees raised in this way will not grow so large as 

 those raised from the seeds; nor will they be so long-lived; 

 but in this way, as in grafting, the choicest selections of 

 fruit can be made. 



Where cutings are to be kept some time, before seting 

 in the ground, let the cut ends be kept in moist earth, and 

 soaked in water before they are set. 

 See further, SLIPS and SCIONS. 



It has always been said, that neither cutings, slips, or 

 scions should be taken from the sprouts of trees. Forsyth 

 particularly insists on this, alleging that sprouts never be- 

 come good bearers. Sprouts certainly bear no fruit, while 

 they are mere thrifty upright shoots; but it is believed, that 

 when they have obtained considerable size, and shoot out 

 their lateral branches, these will become as good bearers 

 as any other branches of the tree. For currants, in parti- 

 cular, some who have tried cutings ot the sprouts, for set- 

 ing, assure us that they prefer them to the branches; as 

 they grow straight and thrifty, and, when they have thrown 

 out their lateral branches, bear exceedingly well. 



It has been said, that a cuting, slip, or scion, when 

 planted, or grafted, will live no longer than the parent 

 stock, if that die a natural death. Mention is made, in the 

 letters of Esjireilla> of a very famous peartree at Teignton, 

 in Greatbritain, which, on account of the excelence of its 

 fruit for making fierry, was called the Teignton Squash; 

 that all the neighboring Farmers grafted trom this tree; 

 and, that when it was found in the last stage of decay, all 

 the grafts which had been taken from it were found in the 

 same condition. 



Perhaps it will be found, that cutings, slips, or scions, 

 will die, when the parent stock dies of natural decay; but 

 that the same rule will not hold in regard to suckers, as 

 these appear to be somewhat of a different kind of growth, 

 and more in the nature of a young tree. They seem to 

 grow with more health and vigor, than the lateral branches. 



