CHAPTEE IV. 



THE DIFFERENT MODES OF PROPAGATING FRUIT TREES. 



General Remarks. The propagation of fruit trees may 

 be classed under two principal heads the Natural, 

 which is by seeds j and the Artificial, by the division of 

 the plants, as in cuttings, layers, suckers, l>uds, and 

 grafts. 



PROPAGATION BY SEEDS. 



Seedling fruit trees are propagated, either to obtain 

 new varieties, or stocks for budding or grafting. It is 

 only where the very rudest system of fruit culture is 

 practised, as for instance in newly-settled countries, that 

 seedlings are planted out to bear, for the reason that, 

 unless in very rare instances, varieties worthy of cultiva- 

 tion do not reproduce themselves from seed. The im- 

 portant differences that exist between the seeds of dif- 

 ferent classes of fruit trees, render it necessary to treat of 

 each separately ; their management will therefore be given 

 in detail, in connection with the propagation of stocks. 



There are some points, however, of general application 

 that may be considered here with propriety. It scarcely 

 admits of a doubt, but that the greater part of the difficul- 

 ties met with in fruit tree culture, as maladies of various 

 sorts, unfruitful ness, etc., are induced by a careless and 



