PROPAGATION OF STOCKS. 113 



should always be taken up in the fall, after the first 

 season's growth, the largest selected for transplanting 

 into the nursery, and the smaller to be put into beds, to 

 remain another season. 



Quince Stocks are propagated with considerable success 

 by cuttings. These should be strong shoots, six inches to 

 a foot long, taken off close to the old wood, and, if pos- 

 sible, with a small portion attached, prepared as directed 

 in article on cuttings, early in the winter, and kept in pits 

 two or three feet below the surface of the soil, in a dry 

 place, till planting time in spring. They should be 

 planted in a light, friable, deep soil, in rows eighteen 

 inches to two feet apart, four to six inches apart in the 

 row, and so deep that but a couple of buds remain above 

 the surface. The ground should be kept clean and mel- 

 low amongst them all summer, and if the cuttings were 

 stout and long, they will in the autumn be fit for taking 

 up and preparing for planting into nursery rows the fol- 

 lowing spring. The best and surest method of propagat- 

 ing the quince stock, however, is by layers, as the best 

 variety for that purpose does not strike so freely from cut- 

 tings as the common sorts. The manner of layering is 

 that recommended for the Doucain and paradise, by 

 earthing up. The stool plants should be set out in a fine, 

 rich, deep border of warm, friable soil, and be about six 

 feet apart, when designed to be permanent. As each stool, 

 by the system recommended, can only yield a crop of 

 plants every two years, there should be two sets, so that 

 an annual supply may be obtained. 



By the ordinary system of bending down the shoots, 

 and slitting, or even without the slitting, a crop may be 

 obtained every year, that is, the shoots of the current sea- 

 son's growth may be layered in July or August, but no 

 such stocks can be obtained as by the earthing up and 



