July.] THE NURSERY. 443 



will then start, and the shoots produced therefrom not having a 

 sufficient length of season to ripen the wood, will either be de- 

 stroyed the ensuing winter, or so much injured as never to make 

 good trees; therefore, budding ought to be performed on the respec- 

 tive kinds at such periods as there will be no hazard of their 

 growing before the ensuing spring, when they will have the advan- 

 tage of the whole season for perfecting their wood, and of acquiring 

 a sufficient strength and texture before winter. 



Apricots, if worked on plum stocks, or on those of its own kind, 

 should be budded in this month, but if on peach or almond, August 

 will be a preferable period. 



Pears may, likewise, be inoculated late in this month, but as to 

 peaches, nectarines, almonds, and apples, if done now, the inserted 

 buds would shoot in the course of the present season, and conse- 

 quently be of little value. 



The stocks of cherries, plums and pears that were budded last 

 summer, or grafted in spring, and that have miscarried, may now 

 be inoculated with the same kinds of fruit, for those will succeed 

 either by grafting or budding. 



Budding generally succeeds best when performed in cloudy 

 weather, or in the morning or evening; for the great power of the 

 mid-day sun is apt to dry and shrivel the cuttings and buds, and 

 prevent the free union that might be expected immediately to take 

 place in a favourable season; at all events let the operation be per- 

 formed on the north side of the stocks, which will give the buds 

 every possible advantage of the sun. 



In performing this work it will be necessary to observe that 

 where trees are intended for walls or espaliers, the buds must be 

 inserted low in the stocks, that is, at the height of five or six inches 

 from the ground; but if intended for standards, the stocks may be 

 worked at the height of three, four, five, or even six feet; or, the 

 low inserted buds may be trained up on single stems to a proper 

 height for standards, or half standards, and then be headed for the 

 production of lateral branches. 



Where there are wall or espalier trees that do not produce fruit 

 of approved kinds, such may be budded with any favourite sorts; 

 this may be performed either upon strong shoots of the present 

 year, or on clean young branches of two years' growth or more; 

 several buds may be inserted in each tree, in different parts, by 

 which means they will be furnished with a sufficiency of new wood 

 of the desired kinds; and in two or three years they will bear abun- 

 dantly. 



Should it be found necessary to immerse the cuttings from which 

 you take your buds in water, place therein only about an inch 

 of their lower ends; the upper parts will be more congenially 

 refreshed by that means than if the cuttings were entirely covered; 

 and, moreover, the buds which are soaked for any considerable 

 time in water will be so saturated with moisture as to prevent their 

 imbibing the more congenial sap of the stocks, so that they often 

 miscarry. For the proper stocks to work the various kinds upon 

 see page 248, &.c. 



