274 INFLUENCE OF THE PLUM-STOCK ON THE APRICOT. 



affected, its pulp being less succulent than that of the peach ; but I have 

 not at present any facts worth adducing in support of this opinion. 



One valid objection to the use of peach-stocks must be admitted : trees 

 budded upon them certainly cannot be transplanted with an equal 

 certainty of success ; and particularly trained trees : but those I am very 

 much disposed to call spoiled trees, which appear calculated to gratify 

 the impatience of the planter, but which often ultimately disappoint his 

 hopes. I have never found any difficulty in transplanting young budded 

 peach trees with perfect success. 



The peach stones, having been protected from severe frost through the 

 winter, may be planted in drills, at about eight inches distant from each 

 other, and a space of about two feet was left between the rows. The 

 plants will spring up in April, and in August and September will be of 

 proper age and size to be budded about two inches from the ground. 

 The nurseryman therefore will have the advantage of taking his buds 

 from the trees whilst the fruit is upon them, and he can in consequence 

 easily guard against errors, which much too frequently occur ; and he 

 may be quite certain that none of his buds will break prematurely 

 Buds may be inserted in the early part of October; and in the last 

 autumn, I introduced some with perfect success in November. Late in 

 the autumn, I generally shorten the roots of my young peach-stocks, 

 particularly those roots which descend perpendicularly into the soil, by 

 introducing a spade into the ground on two sides of each plant, but 

 without moving it, or further disturbing its roots. Thus managed, the 

 buds shoot very freely; and with proper attention to preserve their 

 fibrous roots, and to pack them properly, they may, I am certain, be sent 

 to the most distant parts of the island without danger of their being 

 killed by their removal. Older trees possibly cannot be removed without 

 danger of their failing; but I transplanted a peach tree in the last 

 autumn of ten years old, which grows upon its own roots, and was more 

 than ten feet high ; and it is this spring emitting its blossoms as freely as 

 those trees which have not been transplanted. Its roots were, however, 

 well preserved, and its branches properly retrenched. 



Peach and nectarine trees, particularly of those varieties which have 

 been recently obtained from seed, may be propagated readily by layers, 

 either of the summer or older wood ; and even from cuttings, without 

 artificial heat ; for such strike root freely. But the most eligible method 

 appears to be that of sowing the stones, and budding the young plants in 

 the same season ; and I will venture to assert, that peach and nectarine 

 trees may be thus raised with much less expense and trouble, than by the 



