460 GENERAL REVIEW. 



trees are worked, and the advantages and disadvantages of each 

 on different soils and in different situations. Our fruit nur- 

 serymen, too, should work out this subject, since in the long- 

 run such a course would conduce to their own advantage ; 

 instead of which it is often plainly to be seen that the subject 

 is studied from one point only those stocks which succeed 

 best in their own soil and locality being adopted, to the exclu- 

 sion of others which are equally as well adapted for other sit- 

 uations and soils. This may be called plain speaking; but 

 it is necessary here to speak plainly, in order to avoid being 

 misunderstood. 



Budding. This may be performed in April, just as the bud 

 is breaking, or in July and August, with a dormant double or 

 triple bud. Select buds (or grafts) from medium-sized foreright 

 shoots, and if the operation is to be performed early, the buds 

 may be hastened in their development by pinching the end of 

 the growing shoot. Almond or Plum stocks may be sown as 

 soon as gathered in autumn, and budded the autumn following, 

 or when about a year old. Prepare the stocks a week or two 

 before budding, by clearing off all the lateral branches. Insert 

 the buds in the usual way, or by shield-budding, on the north side 

 of the shoot or stock. Some graft the Brompton stock on the 

 seedling Almond as an intermediary, and crown-whip or splice- 

 graft with the desired variety in April. It is a noticeable fact 

 at Montrieul, near Paris, that Peaches of the same variety, 

 grown under otherwise equal conditions, are a week or ten days 

 earlier on the Plum stock than when grafted on the Almond ; 

 hence the Plum stock should be used for the early varieties in 

 preference to any other. Some bud the Brompton, Muscle, or 

 Pear Plum on seedling Peach stocks, and crown or cleft-graft 

 these with scions from the desired variety the second year. 

 Ornamental double-flowered Peaches or Almonds may be 

 either budded or grafted on any of the above stocks. Grafting 

 may either be performed in the nursery rows in the open air, 

 or stocks may be potted and worked under glass. In the case 

 of the ornamental varieties, this is quickest and best. In an 

 emergency any seedling Plums may be used as stocks for 

 Peaches and Nectarines, as well as for choice varieties of their 

 own species. It would be interesting to know whether the 

 Plum, Peach, Nectarine, or Apricot will hybridise with each 

 other ; and this experiment may be tried, even if it leads to no 

 practical good. 



