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THE NURSERY-BOOK. 



then be taken off, trimmed up and fitted to plant as stocks 

 the following spring, and budded in August. It is imperative 

 to set the bud as low as possible in order to secure long-lived 

 trees. Some varieties do not unite well with the quince, and 

 if it is desired to dwarf them, they should be double-worked 

 (see page 91). 



The pear can also be grown upon the apple, thorn and 

 mountain ash. Upon the apple it is short-lived, although 

 pear cions, set in the top of an old apple tree, often bear 

 large fruits for a few years. When pear stocks cannot be 

 had, pears are sometimes worked upon apple roots. If the 

 cions are long they will emit roots, and when the apple nurse 

 fails the pear becomes own-rooted Good dwarf trees are 

 often secured upon the thorn, and there is reason to believe 

 that some of the thorns will be found to be preferable to 

 quince stocks for severe climates and for special purposes. 

 The subject is little understood. The mountain ash is some- 

 times used for the purpose of growing pears upon a sandy 

 soil, but its use appears to be of little consequence. 



Pears of the Le Conte and Keiffer type are often grown 

 from cuttings in the south. Cuttings are made of the recent 

 mature growth, about a foot in length, and are planted in 

 the open ground after the manner of long grape cuttings. 

 Le Conte, Garber, Smith, and other very strong growers of 

 the Chinese type, are probably best when grown from cut- 

 tings. They soon overgrow French stocks, as also apple 

 stocks, which have been used to some extent ; but if long 

 cions are used, own-rooted trees are soon obtained, and the 

 stock will have served a useful purpose in pushing the cion 

 the first two or three years. 



Pecan (flicoria Pecari). Juglandece, 



Propagated by seeds. These may be planted as soon as 

 ripe, or stratified until spring. The ground should be well 

 prepared and the nuts planted about 3 inches deep. By 

 grafting on pecan or common hickory stock that is not over 

 2 years old. Cions about 6 inches long should be cut during 

 the winter and put in a cool place to hold them back until the 

 stocks have fairly started in the spring. The stalks should 

 then be cut off at the crown and the cion inserted. The 

 tongue-graft gives the best result. Bandage securely and 

 bank with earth nearly to the top of the cion, to keep it 

 moist. 



Pelargonium (Geranium, Stork's Bill). Geraniacece. 



Seeds, sown in light soi! with mild heat, are sometimes 

 employed. Commonly increased by cuttings of firm shoots, 



