250 THE NURSERY. [March. 



The apricot proves the most durable on stocks of the plum kind. 

 It will also grow on its own, and on peach and almond stocks; but 

 on either of the two last it will not be durable. 



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

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

 raised 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 work- 

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

 as in a lew vears to overgrow the stock, when wrought on any ot 

 the kinds of plum which we have yet procured. The kind particu- 

 larly 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. 2ndly. Always to take 

 them from healthy fruit fid 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 ves- 

 sels are generally large, they will continue to produce strong 

 shoots, but will be a long 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. 3dly. 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 oft' 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 cati be cut away when you take them up for grafting. If grafts 

 an 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 

 ;t 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, 



