SEVERAL METHODS OF PLANTING. 21 



may begin to gather in two years. If he is still 

 impatient but cannot find a sour grove, let him buy 

 the sour stumps, plant them in some suitable loca- 

 tion, and he may begin to gather fruit in three 

 years from planting. But if he can wait a while 

 longer for fruit, with the hope of getting a longer- 

 lived tree and more abundant yield, let him plant 

 younger trees, either seedlings or budded stock. If 

 he wishes an early bearer and comparatively smaller 

 tree, he can select the sour seedling budded. If a 

 larger but later bearer, he can select the sweet seed- 

 ling budded. If he wishes an abundant yield and 

 the largest trees, and can wait a longer time, the 

 sweet seedling unbudded will suit. With good 

 treatment such trees will begin to yield in eight 

 years, and after a longer time, in ninety-nine 

 cases out of a hundred, give him a fair quality 

 of fruit ; but perhaps he will have as many varie- 

 ties or sub- varieties as trees in his grove. The 

 sour stock for a few years grows more rapidly, but 

 will finally make a smaller tree than the sweet. 

 The best quality of fruit can be insured only by 

 budding from the best varieties. 



As to the relative advantages of seedling and 

 budded trees, each year's experience and observa- 

 tion increase my appreciation of budded trees. 

 Were I to plant again, I think I would plant no 

 other. 



