122 



THE NUKSEKY 



recommended for cherries. They may be saved in fall or 

 spring as circumstances already mentioned will admit. 



JSTearly all j)lums used for stocks may be propagated by 

 layers. Mother plants or stools are planted out and cut 

 back as recommended for paradise, &c. ; the shoots of the 

 previous season's growth are pegged down in the spring 

 flat, and two inches of earth dra^vn over them. Every 

 bud on these layers will produce a shoot that, generally, 

 will be well enough rooted in the fall to be separated from 

 the stool and planted out into nm-sery rows the follovring 

 spring. These layered shoots are cut off close to thi5 old 

 plant, and the upright shoots produced during the previ- 

 ous season may be again pegged down. 



The stools or mother plants managed in this way require 

 the best treatment to maintaTn their vigor, that a supply 

 of strong shoots may be produced every season fit to lay 

 down in the spring. Weak, slender shoots, unfit to layer, 

 should be cut out early in the season to aid the growth of 

 those intended for use. This usually goes by the name of 

 Chinese Layering. 



Section 3. — ^Transplanting Stoces. 



This comprehends three separate operations, taking up^ 

 dressing ov pruning^ and replanting ; but before touching 

 on the detail of these operations, it may be well to con- 

 sider 



1st. The age at which Stocks should he transplanted. — 

 On this point there seems to be a diversity of opinion, not 

 only among book writers but practical cultivators. The 

 very general opinion, and one that is most acted upon, is, 

 that they should remain where they have been propagated 

 until they are large enough to be worked ; a great many 

 plans are therefore suggested for wintering seedlings, and 

 especially the pear. The experience of the best culti- 



