138 THE XURSERY. 



The very general one is, that they should remain where 

 they have been propagated until they are large enough to 

 be worked ; a great many plans are, therefore, suggested 

 for wintering seedlings, and especially the pear. The ex- 

 perience of the best cultivators everywhere is, that seed- 

 ling stocks in general should be transplanted when one 

 year old. It may be urged against this that some seed- 

 lings are so small when one year old, as not to be worth 

 transplanting ; so feeble, that more care and culture would 

 be required, before they could be worked, than they are 

 worth. In reply, it can only be said that such feeble pro- 

 ductions are only fit to be thrown away ; because the seeds 

 must have been defective, or the soil and culture bad ; 

 and stocks raised from poor seeds, or stunted by bad soil 

 and culture, will never make sound, healthy, vigorous, nor 

 long-lived trees. There may be some exceptions to this, 

 but the rule will generally hold good. 



When seedlings remain longer than one year in the seed- 

 bed, they grow up slender and weak ; one more vigorous 

 than its neighbors will ruin all around it. Then the roots 

 do not ramify, but continue to lengthen, without forming 

 laterals or fibres ; and when removed, and reduced to the 

 necessary dimensions, they receive a severe check; but at 

 one year the check is very light ; they at once form lateral 

 roots, and instead of being drawn up tall and slender, they 

 become stout and well-proportioned. The best pear-grow- 

 ers in Europe, and even in this country, would scarcely 

 take, as a gift, two-year seedling pears from the seed-bed, 

 unless in case of absolute necessity. 



The proper plan is to take up all seedling stocks, and all 

 layers sufficiently rooted to bear separation from the stool, 

 and all cuttings that stand close, at one year old, and sort 

 and arrange into separate classes, in this way : in one class 

 put the strongest, those fit for immediate use, either to be 

 grafted on the root, or set in nursery rows, and be budded 

 the summer following ; in another class, put such as may 



