THE NURSERY. 

 SECTION 2. DESCRIPTION AND PROPAGATION OF STOCKS. 



This branch of the subject is of such importance, and 

 involves so many considerations, that it seems to be more 

 methodical to treat it separately from subsequent opera- 

 tions. 



1st. Stocks for the Apple. The principal stocks in use 

 for the apple are the common seedling, or free stock, the 

 Douc in, and the Paradise. 



Seedlings, or free stocks, are ordinarily produced from 

 seeds taken promiscuously from the cider-mill in the 

 autumn. 



Preparing the Seed. The cakes of pressed pomace are 

 broken up, and the coarser materials, straw, etc., sepa- 

 rated from it by means of a coarse sieve ; the sifted pomace 

 is then put into large tubs, and subjected to repeated 

 washings until clean. The clean, plump seeds fall to the 

 bottom, and the pomace and light, poor seeds are carried 

 off in the washings. When fruits have been selected for 

 the seeds, they are placed in heaps until fermentation and 

 decay have reduced the flesh to a soft, pulpy state, when 

 they are washed in tubs, in the same manner as pomace. 



Saving the Seed. When the seed is washed out as 

 above, it must be spread thinly on boards, and repeatedly 

 turned over until perfectly dry, when it is put away in 

 boxes, mixed with sand containing a slight degree of 

 moisture. The boxes should be well secured against ver- 

 min, and be kept in a dry, cool place until the time of 

 planting. 



Season and Mode of Planting. If the ground be in 

 readiness, and perfectly dry and friable, the best time is 

 the fall, as soon as the seeds are cleaned. At this season 

 the pomace, seeds and all, as it conies from the press, may 

 be planted without any washing. It should be broken 

 up fine, so that it may be evenly distributed in the seed 

 bed. The difficulty of doing this, is a serious objection to 



