116 PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 



it appears from the best authorities, that the 

 almond was the original parent of the above 

 fruits, and they grow freely budded on the 

 almond stock, but they are far more durable 

 when budded on the plum. To enter here into 

 a detail of the different peaches and nectarines 

 which grow best on the different sorts of plums, 

 would be wholly unnecessary, as I do not 

 consider myself as writing complete and full 

 instructions to render every one of my readers 

 competent to fill the arduous labours of a nur- 

 seryman, and to particularize each would rather 

 tend to confuse than inform ; suffice it to say, 

 that neither peach or nectarine will succeed on 

 the Brussels Stock, and the stocks generally 

 used for peaches and nectarines which they 

 like most are the Muscle and Pear plums. 



It often occurs, that peaches and nectarines 

 swell too large for the stock they are budded on ; 

 this plainly denotes the stock is not suited to 

 the constitution of that variety ; and this the 

 nurserymen in the neighbourhood of London 

 have made their study, and have brought it to 

 that perfection, as to give them a decided supe- 

 riority over most of their country contempora- 

 ries, who, generally speaking, have not suffi- 

 cient practice in this department ; indeed it is 

 no small matter of consideration, for it is not 



