On budding Peaches on Almond Stocks. 169 



I am inclined to think that Mr. Anderson's experiments are 

 quite sufficient to convince every one that the peach budded 

 on the almond will not succeed in this climate. He certainly 

 adopted the best methods for ascertaining the point by sowing 

 the seed and budding the stock where i* was to remain, it be- 

 ing one objection, and that not a small one, to its general use, 

 that the almond forms tap roots with scarcely any fibres, and 

 on that account much uncertainty attends its transplantation. 

 Even with this treatment, Mr. Anderson is not successful, as 

 he finds his trees, when just coming into bearing, die off like 

 rotten sheep ; and I think Mr. Anderson accounts for it very 

 satisfactorily, when he says, " It should be observed, that the 

 almond tree usually continues growing, even till checked by 

 the frost in December." There can be no doubt, therefore, 

 that there is the same excitement when it is a stock for a 

 peach, and as the superstructure is dormant, there must be a 

 disagreement between the parties, as it may be called an un- 

 natural union. 



In regard to the practice abroad, I cannot take upon me to 

 say that it is not done, but I think, if so, only on a limited 

 scale ; though it may do better in a warmer country, the almond 

 being a native of Barbary. I am certain this is not the gene- 

 ral mode abroad. I have seen some hundreds of peach, nec- 

 tarine, and apricot trees, brought from France and Holland, 

 not budded on almond but on plum stocks, and so well 

 united with the stock, and appearing so healthy, that many of 

 the trees were purchased for the sake of the stocks, and planted 

 for stools, and the produce of which at this time are held in 

 the greatest estimation for the purpose of budding the more 

 tender kinds on, viz. those generally termed French peaches, 

 &c. I think you are misinformed, Mr. Conductor, on the 

 subject of the stocks used in Germany, as the St. Julien is the 

 Brussels of this country, which is a very exceptionable stock 

 for budding any kind of fruit-tree on. I am sure the Damson 

 must be inapplicable altogether. I am, &c. 



HORTULANUS. 



Dec. 27. 1826. 



Our authority for stating that the Damson plum (Damas 

 Noir) was used as a stock on the Continent, is the Bon Jardi- 

 nier (1826, p. 258.), but possibly the plants alluded to may 

 be different from the damson of this country. A writer in 

 the Irish Farmer's Journal, in reference to this subject, says, 

 " The late Sir William Newcomen, of Killester, near Dublin, 

 had almost all his peach, nectarine, and moor park apricots 



