AMERICAN GARDENER. 183 



as dust to a foot deep. The root of the weed sucks 

 up every particle of moisture. What pretty 

 things they are, then, to keep seedling trees 

 cool ! -To proceed: these seedlings if well ma- 

 naged, will be eight inches high, and some high- 

 er, at the end of the first summer. The next 

 spring they should be taken up; or this may be 

 done in the fall. They should be planted in rows, 

 four feet apart, to give room to turn about amongst 

 them ; and at two feet apart in the rows, if intend- 

 ed to be grafted or budded without being again 

 removed. If intended to be again removed, be- 

 fore grafting or budding, they may be put at a foot 

 apart. They should be kept clean by hoeing be- 

 tween them, and the ground between them should 

 be dug in the fall, but not at any other season of 

 the year. The plants will grow fast or slowly 

 according to the soil and management ; and he 

 who knows how to bud or to graft, will know 

 when the stock is arrived at the proper size for 

 each purpose. To speak of the kind of stocks 

 most suitable to the different kinds of fruit-trees 

 is reserved till we come to speak of the trees 

 themselves ; but there are some remarks to be 

 made here, which have a general afifilication> 

 relative to the kinds of stocks. It is supposed 

 by some persons, that the nature of the stock 

 affects the nature of the fruit; that is to say, 

 that the fruit growing on branches, proceeding 

 from a bud or a graft, partakes more or less of 

 the flavour of the fruit which would have grown 

 on the stock, if the stock had been suffered to 

 grow to a tree and to bear fruit. This is Mr. 

 MARSHALL'S notion. But, how erroneous it is, 

 must be manifest to every one when he reflects 



