126 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



the others downy fruits (Peaches). Stones saved from 

 ripe Peach fruits and sown will often produce seedling 

 Nectarine trees ; while stones from a Nectarine fruit will 

 yield Peach trees. Nectarines are generally more luscious 

 in flavour than Peaches. 



Propagation. This is effected chiefly by budding on 

 the Mussel and the St. Julien Plum. Seedling Peach 

 trees, reared by sowing the stones, may also be used 

 as stocks, but the trees grafted thereon are not long- 

 lived in this climate, although they do well so propagated 

 in warm climates. The Mussel and St. Julien stocks are 

 suitable for the average soils in this country. Budding 

 must be performed in July or August. It is not difficult 

 to rear Peaches and Nectarines from stones sown a couple 

 of inches deep in a sunny border or in pots in a cold 

 frame; but as seedlings have to be grown many years 

 before they bear fruit, and then the chances are the fruit 

 will be worthless, the system is not worth pursuing. 

 Grafting, again, is not a reliable method of increase. 



Soil. Granted that the Peach and Nectarine succeed 

 best budded on the Plum stock, and bearing in mind 

 that this stock is surface-rooting, it will be seen that a 

 great depth of soil is not needed. What is wanted is a 

 fairly decent soil, not too light nor too heavy, too dry nor 

 too wet. A happy medium in both is a sine qua non. 



Supposing the soil to be very light or sandy, mix some 

 heavy loam, also some burnt soil and old mortar or lime, 

 with it, and dig to a depth of 2ft. If heavy, remove the 

 top spit, dig out the second one and discard it, loosen 

 the third spit, and work in some stones, broken bricks, 

 etc., with it to make it porous. Now replace the top spit, 

 mix chaired soil, wood ashes, and lime rubble with it; then 

 fill up to within six inches of the surface with a mixture 

 of loam, burnt soil, wood ashes, and old mortar; place the 

 roots on this, and fell up the remaining space with the same 

 material. 



