MJLRCH.J THE NURSERY. 243 



For peaches and nectarines, several sorts of stocks are occasion- 

 ally used ; such as plum, peach, almond, and apricot stocks, all rais- 

 ed from the stones of the fruit, and the first kind from layers and 

 suckers also. If a plum could be procured of such vigorous 

 growth, as to keep pace with the peach, it would be an acquisition 

 of infinite importance ; for on such, the peach would be as perma- 

 nent as the plum itself. In Europe, all their peach-trees are worked 

 on the plum ; but with us, the growth of the peach is so rapid, as 

 in a few years to overgrow the stock, when wrought on any of the 

 kinds of plum which we have yet procured. The kind particularly 

 selected for this purpose in Europe, is the muscle-plum. 



Almonds will take, and grow on any stock which answers for the 

 peach. 



Medlars will grow on either medlar, white-thorn, pear, or quince 

 stocks ; but those of its own genera, are preferable. 



Filberts will succeed by budding or grafting on the common 

 hazel-nut tree, raised either from the nuts, or by suckers from the 

 roots. 



The first thing to be done towards this work, is to select the 

 grafts, in the choice of which, the following directions should be 

 observed. 1st. That they are shoots of the former year; for, 

 when they are older, they never succeed well. 2dly. Always 

 to take them from healthy fruitful trees ; for, if the trees from 

 which they are taken be sickly, the grafts very often partake so 

 much of the distemper, as rarely to get the better of it, at least for 

 some years ; and when they are taken from young luxuriant trees, 

 whose vessels are generally large, they will continue to produce 

 strong shoots, but will be a h>ng time coming into bearing, and 

 are seldom so productive, as those which are taken from fruitful 

 trees, whose shoots are more compact, joints closer together, and 

 whose system is already organized for bearing. Sdly. You should 

 prefer those grafts which are taken from the lateral or horizontal 

 branches, to those from the strong perpendicular shoots, for the 

 reasons before given. 



When your grafts are cut off, open shallow trenches in a dry 

 sheltered situation, and place them thinly therein, with their cut 

 ends down, drawing up the earth so as that they may be covered 

 two-thirds of their length ; then lay some light litter thinly over 

 their tops, to prevent their drying. If a small joint of the last 

 year's wood be taken off with the cion, it will preserve it the better ; 

 for the old wood being more compact than the new, will prevent its 

 imbibing too much moisture from the earth, whilst kept there, and 

 that can be cut away, when you take them up for grafting. If grafts 

 are to be carried to any considerable distance, it will be proper to 

 pack them up in earth, and surround them with damp moss, if but 

 a small quantity, to prevent its drying too soon. 



Always prefer stocks, which were raised in the Nursery from 

 seed; next to these, those raised from layers and cuttings; and, 

 last of all, such as were produced from suckers ; for the last will 

 continue to throw up suckers from their roots, much more abund- 

 antly than any of the former, to the great annoyance of the borders, 





