PE1CH. 



stone Peaches ; and the Brognons, or Nectarines, or cling- 

 stone smooth Peaches. 



Although this fruit will thrive in any sweet, pulverized 

 soil that is properly prepared, a rich sandy loam is the most 

 suitable. Next to the selection and preparation of a suitable 

 soil, a choice of good healthy trees is of the utmost impor- 

 tance. The seeds for stocks should be selected from the 

 vigorous-growing young, or mkldle-aged healthy trees ; and 

 the buds should be taken from some of the choicest fruit- 

 bearing trees that can be found. Let the stocks be fairly 

 tested before they are budded, and if any infection exist in 

 the stocks, or in the vicinity of where the choice of buds 

 may fall, reject them, if you wish to rear a healthy progeny ; 

 as more depends on these particular points than many are 

 aware of. 



In this country, the Peach is generally budded on stocks 

 of its own kind ; but in England it is often budded on 

 damask Plum stocks, and some of the more delicate sorts 

 on Apricot stocks, or old Apricot trees cut down : or on 

 seedling Peaches, Almonds or Nectarines. (See article 

 Nectarine. (Cobbett says, " there are thousands of Peach 

 trees in England and France that are fifty years old, and 

 that are still in vigorous fruitfulness." He attributes the 

 swift decay of the Peach tree here to their being grafted on 

 stocks of their kind." 



Mr. Michael Floy, of the Harlaem Nursery, in a note, 

 page 364 of the American edition of Lindley's Guide to the 

 Orchard and Fruit Garden, edited by him, makes the fol- 

 lowing observations on this subject, which he says are the 

 results of thirty years' experience as a nurseryman in the 

 vicinity of New- York : 



" In this country Peaches are generally budded on Peach 

 stocks. Their growth is very rapid, and they will form a 

 tree large enough to transplant from the nursery, the first 

 and second year after budding; but notwithstanding the 

 rapid growth of our Peaches, and their coming to maturity 

 so early, with but little care and trouble, it must at the same 

 time be admitted that they too often come to decay with 

 almost the same celerity. A question here will naturally 



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