168 On budding Peaches on Almond Stocks. 



might murder it downright, while gravel, drought, and cold only 

 starve it, or afflict it with gradual and incurable decay. To 

 come to the point. The almond delights in stiff clay and 

 strong loam. I say not that it may not be poisoned by wet 

 stagnating on stiff clay ; but give it draining, and give it even 

 a moderately warm climate in Britain, and your almond on 

 clay does well. Many have unfortunately experienced that 

 the peach and nectarine, grafted on the ordinary stocks, and 

 planted on clay, are diseased, unproductive, and of short dur- 

 ation. But on those soils the peach and nectarine, budded 

 on almond stocks, have a decided superiority. The Parisian 

 nurserymen bud their peaches and nectarines principally on 

 almond stocks, and those are found highly productive, and I 

 have heard no complaint derogatory to their pre-eminence, 

 when planted on very strong clay soils in this country ; as, 

 for instance, on the London blue clay. A specimen may be en- 

 quired for in the gardens of William Agar, Esq. at Elm Grove, 

 on the banks of the Regent's Canal, in the road from London 

 to Highgate, who about six years since, finding the failure on 

 his soil of British Stocks, planted a considerable number 

 budded on almond stocks, which he obtained from that most 

 intelligent, zealous, and active friend to horticultural improve- 

 ment, M. Vilmorin, St. Andrieux, 32. Quai de Megisserie, 

 Paris. It is true, that these trees are yet young, but let those 

 who wish to investigate the universality of the application of 

 Mr. Anderson's experiment, keep their eye upon Mr. Agar's 

 trees, and mark the result. 



I would subscribe my name, were I not a member of a pro- 

 fession, to excel in which, it is too often supposed that its 

 professors ought to know nothing else, and wish to know 

 nothing else beyond its peculiar studies. I know not whether 

 of the two would be the more injurious to me, to have it be- 

 lieved that I could write a good anacreontic song, or that I 

 was a good gardener. I am, Sir, &c. 



Causidicus. 



Oct. 26. 1 826. 



Art. XVI. Observations on Mr. Anderson's Experiments 

 with Peaches and Apricots budded on Almond Stocks. By 



HoRTULANUS. 



Sir, 

 Mr. Anderson has expressed a wish that further trials 

 should be made in respect to the almond as a stock for peaches. 



