44 



Thus far "Worcestershire ; and similar reports might 

 be made of the other counties. This points at once 

 to the necessity of improved practices, especially as 

 to care in selecting seed from proper kinds ; and espe- 

 cially of souud constitution : instead of raising indis- 

 criminately from the " Must/*' 



We would advise all who are desirous of improving 

 on the old practices, to be particular in their nursery 

 management. We would carefully select our seed ac- 

 cording to the maxims previously laid down ; we 

 would sow it on soil of a fresh character, at least not 

 in ground which had previously been occupied in like 

 manner ; and at transplanting time, we would sort 

 them into three distinct samples. First we would 

 pick out all those possessing very stout and short- 

 jointed wood, as being likely to produce occasionally 

 good fruit without grafting. The second selection 

 should include all that look healthy and strong ; and 

 the third lot we would entirely reject as being the 

 smallest, and thereby, probably, of delicate constitu- 

 tion. The latter, however, might be suffered to un- 

 dergo another two years' probation in the nursery, if 

 thought desirable. 



It should be borne in mind in nursery treatment, 

 that, in rearing standards with high stems, it is neces- 

 sary to practise what is termed " snagging in" by 

 nurserymen, that is, leaving a joint or two on each 

 of the side shoots, previous to the full development 



