32 PEACH CULTURE. 



No seed, therefore, should be taken from an orchard 

 that is diseased ; but especially none from any orchard in- 

 fected in the least with the yellows, as this is, perhaps, the 

 most contagious and unmanageable of all diseases inci- 

 dent to peach culture. It should also be ripe fruit ; for, 

 while the seed of an immature peach may not actually 

 communicate disease to the young tree, yet it will most 

 likely produce a feeble stock, predisposed to disease and 

 "short life. 



The seed should be of natural fruit. It is more vigor- 

 ous, more hardy, more certain to germinate, and the trees 

 live longer. This should never be overlooked by any 

 planter who wishes the full reward of his labor. The 

 seed of budded fruit will grow, it is true, but it is not so 

 certain to do so. The kernels are often diseased or de- 

 fective; hardly ever so firm, round, and nutty as the 

 natural ones. The first effort of nature seems to be the 

 reproduction and perpetuation of the tree in health and 

 vigor ; that of art the production of fruit of the richest 

 flavor and most delicate beauty. Both, in perfection, 

 seem unattainable in one tree. If we want highly vigor- 

 ous and long-lived trees, we must never bud or graft ; 

 but if we wish rich, luscious fruit, we must do both. But, 

 as a healthy, vigorous tree is essential to the production 

 of the finest fruit, we must strive for this also. Happily, the 

 art of budding enables us to approximate both ; but they 

 can only be produced by a constant repetition of innocu- 

 lation on natural stocks. Hence, we must plant natural 

 seed in order to obtain a healthy, vigorous tree, and bud 

 on it an ingrafted cion, that we may have large, rich, 

 and beautiful fruit. And we may just as well expect fine 

 fruit from repeatedly planting natural seed, as fine trees 

 from planting budded seed. An honest dealer will not, 

 of course, sell the seed of budded fruit for natural ; but a 

 little observation and experience will enable any one to 

 judge for himself and avoid imposition. 



