INFLUENCE OF THE PLUM-STOCK ON THE APRICOT. 273 



to interrupt the free and proper course of the sap. Some varieties of 

 pears are known to be spoiled by the quince-stock; and I entertain 

 little doubt but that the quality of every species of fruit, to some extent, 

 suffers when grown upon a stock of another species or genus. 



I have been led to these conclusions by the following circumstances, 

 which have within the last two years come under my observation. I 

 have stated, in a former communication, that the Moorpark apricot 

 succeeds much better upon its native stock than upon a plum-stock. I 

 had observed that its foliage acquired a deeper shade of colour, and that 

 it retained its verdure very considerably later in the autumn ; and its 

 fruit appeared to me to be singularly excellent. I had not, however, at 

 that period an apricot-tree growing upon a plum-stock, upon quite the 

 same aspect ; and I therefore hesitated to ascribe the superiority of the 

 fruit to any operation of the native stock. But I have subsequently 

 planted two trees, growing upon plum-stocks, and two upon apricot- 

 stocks, upon the same aspects, and in a similar soil ; giving those upon 

 the plum-stocks the advantage of some superiority in age, and I have 

 found the produce of the apricot-stocks to be in every respect greatly the 

 best. It is much more succulent and melting, and differs so widely from 

 the fruit of the other trees, that I have heard many gardeners, who were 

 not acquainted with the circumstances under which the fruit was produced, 

 contend against the identity of the variety. The buds were, however, 

 taken from the same tree. 



I have also some reasons for believing that the quality of the fruit of 

 the peach-tree is, in some cases at least, much deteriorated by the 

 operation of the plum-stock. My garden contains two peach-trees of the 

 same variety, the Acton Scott, one growing upon its native stock, and 

 the other upon a plum-stock, the soil being similar, and the aspect the 

 same. That growing upon the plum-stock affords fruit of a larger size, 

 and its colour, where it is exposed to the sun, is much more red ; but its 

 pulp is more coarse, and its taste and flavour so inferior, that I should 

 be much disposed to deny the identity of the variety, if I had not inserted 

 the buds from which both sprang with my own hand. 



Having tried experiments only in one soil, and in the same situation, 

 I, of course, have stated the foregoing circumstance chiefly with the view 

 of exciting other horticulturists to make similar experiments ; and it is 

 particularly desirable that such should be tried in the garden of the 

 Society. 



I think it probable that the quality of the nectarine will be still more 



