168 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap. 



weedless ground moist and fresh, while the other 

 is dry as dust to a foot deep. The root of the 

 weed sucks up every particle of moisture. What 

 pretty things they are, then, to keep seedling trees 

 cool ! — To proceed ; these seedlings, if well ma- 

 naged, will be eight inches high, and some higher, 

 at the end of the first summer. The next spring 

 they should be taken up ; or, this may be done in 

 the fall. They should be planted in rows, four 

 feet apart, to give room to turn about amongst 

 them ; and at two feet apart in the rows, if intend- 

 ed to be grafted or budded without being again re- 

 moved. If intended to be again removed, before 

 grafting or budding, they may be put at a foot apart. 

 They should be kept clean by hoeing between them, 

 and the ground between them should be dug in the 

 fall, but not at any other season of the year. — The 

 plants will grow fast or slowly according to the soil 

 and management ; and, he who knows how to bud 

 or to graft, will know when the stock is arrived at 

 the proper size for each purpose. — To speak ot 

 the kind of stocks, most suitable to the different 

 kinds of fruit trees, is reserved till we come to speak 

 of the trees themselves ; but there are some re- 

 marks to be made here, which have a general ap- 

 plication, relative to the kinds of stocks. — It is 

 supposed by some persons, that the nature of the 

 stock affects the nature of the fruit ; that is to say, 

 that the fruit growing on branches, proceeding from 

 a hud, or a graft, partakes, more or less of the 

 flavour of the fruit which would have grown on 

 the stock, if the stock had been suffered to grow to 

 a tree and to bear fruit. This is Mr. Marshall's 

 notion. But, how erroneous it is must be manifest 

 to every one when he reflects, that the stock for 

 the pear tree is frequently the white-thorn. Can a 



