Part IL-PRACTICAL WORK. 



CHAPTER I. 

 Propagation of Fruit Trees. 



FRUIT trees are propagated by means of seeds, budding, 

 cuttings, grafting, and layering. 



By Seeds. This method is only practised for rearing 

 new sorts of fruits after careful cross-fertilisation, with 

 the specific view of obtaining an improved variety or 

 varieties, or for the purpose of obtaining trees intended 

 to serve as stocks for budding or grafting thereon existing 

 varieties of fruits. No useful purpose is served by rearing 

 fruit trees from seeds in an ordinary haphazard way, as, 

 unless the flowers were carefully fertilised beforehand with 

 a definite object in view, the resultant seedlings, after 

 years of cultivation, would, in all probability, turn out 

 worthless. In a general way, therefore, rearing fruit 

 trees from seed is not to be recommended. 



Assuming, however, seeds of Apples and Pears have 

 been obtained as a result of definite cross-fertilisa- 

 tion, with a view to obtaining a new variety, sow 

 them as soon as ripe, in pots of light, sandy 

 soil, in a cold frame. Do not give much water 

 till spring. When the seedlings are 4 3in. high, plant 

 them out i8in. apart in rows 3ft. asunder. Let them 



