OS 1 FRUIT TREE?, 33' 



give it firmness and vigour in the plantation. It is 

 reported, that the agricultural society of Nova Scotia 

 has found, by experience, that apple trees, raised from 

 seeds, if transplanted from the seed bed, in time, (hav- 

 ing the tap root cut off,) may be rendered fit for graft- 

 ing one or two seasons earlier than if left in the place 

 where the seeds were sown. While in the nursery 

 bed, the young plants require to be frequently hoed ; 

 the earth should be kept loose, and entirely free from 

 weeds ; and, in a very dry season, they should be oc- 

 casionally watered. When two years old, they will 

 be in a proper condition to receive the scions, or buds r 

 which are intended for them, as the operation is then 

 more easy and certain than when the stocks are older. 



ENGRAFTING, 



The art of engrafting has not, it is believed, been 

 traced to its origin. In a treatise published by Park, 

 inson, in 1 629, both grafting and inoculating are men- 

 tioned, but the period when the practice commenced 

 has not been ascertained. The great utility and ad- 

 vantage of the art is, however, universally understood. 

 According to Mr. Yates. (letter published in Forsyth's 

 treatise,) the art was introduced into America by Mr* 

 Prince, a native of New-York, who established a nur- 

 sery in its neighbourhood about sixty years ago. 

 Fruit trees, which are grafted or inoculated, come in- 

 to a bearing state several years sooner than those 

 produced from seed ; besides, grafted or inoculated 

 trees invariably produce the same kind of fruit as the 

 parent tree from which the scion or bud is taken, 

 while that from seedling trees is liable to sport in 

 endless varieties. In the choice of scions for grafting, 

 the first essential requisite is, that they are of the 

 same genus and natural family with the stock which 

 is to become their foster parent, and which is to afford 

 4 



