FRUIT-TREES. 45 



better aflured of what they do 5 but if they 

 buy their trees of nurferymen, they fhould 

 diligently inquire upon what flocks they 

 were propagated. 



For flocks are in fome meafure a fort of 

 foil to the kinds of trees raifed on themi as 

 every part of a tree, let it be ever fo minute, 

 forms its root upon the parts below. Thus 

 the tafles of fruit may be improved by 

 proper flocks (and which are proper I fliall 

 fhew hereafter) as well as by proper foils. 



Perhaps it may be the opinion of fome 

 that all juices are changed by the pores of 

 veffels through which they pafs, and that 

 all trees propagated upon any flocks what- 

 foever will equally produce good fruit, ad- 

 mit their growth is healthful and flrong j 

 but if they will give themfelves the trouble 

 to examine this point carefully, and with- 

 out prejudice, they will find as confiderable 

 a difference (with refpeft to fruit) between 

 flocks as between foils. 



Their opinion indeed has fome fhew of 

 reafon in it ; for as the apricot, almond, 

 peach, and neclarine, are generally budded 

 upon plum-flocks, yet bear fruit of their 

 own kind, which fhews that juices are 



changed 



