THE CULTURE OF PLANTS 



We can also be sure of the desired fruit by cut- 

 tings, layings, and circumposition, but from such 

 are alwayes dwarfish and short-liv'd trees, as want- 

 ing a main-root, which all seedlings have. Hence 

 ariseth one reason, why stocks should be raised 

 from the seed : suckers are not so clean and lustie, 

 therefore not so able to nurse the graffs, and they 

 are apt to send suckers again. Only I look upon 

 plum-suckers as very good, because when they 

 spring off a root at a distance from the stem, they 

 strike a good root of themselves, very much resem- 

 bling seedlings. Moreover you may graff on a root, 

 or a stock sprung off that root, which is near equal 

 to a seedling. 



The seeds of crabs, or wild aples and pears, may 

 be fit to make stocks of for such trees as are de- 

 signed for the fields, or more rugged grounds ; but 

 for a cultivated soil I would choice the seeds of finer 

 fruits : and so the great white-plum is the best stock 

 for apricocks,or for want thereof, any other white- 

 plum with great shoots, albeit it doth on any plum ; 

 but we reject itself fora stock, as being too spongie, 

 and not so durable. But peaches and nectarines 

 take only best upon peach-stocks ; so cherries on 

 geens, and plumes upon plumes. 



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