46 



happens that the future tree is spoiled in appearance 

 by the weakness or unequal vigour of the side shoots, 

 and partial decay of these, and of that part of the 

 main stem which is above the stock. But, even under 

 the most favourable circumstances, this mode of rais- 

 ing peach trees never produces handsome plants till 

 the third year, and they seldom bear fruit till the 

 fourth or fifth year. 



As a quicker and better mode of raising trees of 

 this kind, sow in autumn kernels of peaches, necta- 

 rines, or apricots, under the walls where they are to 

 remain. They will make a vigorous shoot the fol- 

 lowing spring, and may either be budded in the Au- 

 gust of the same year, or grafted the March of the 

 year following. Grafting is the mode Mr. Cameron 

 prefers, and the scion should have a quarter of an 

 inch of two-years-old wood at its lower extremity. 

 Scions so taken off succeed better than those taken 

 indifferently from any part of the young wood. Cut 

 the stock with a dovetail notch for the scion to rest 

 on, and tie it on in the usual manner. Remove the 

 buds of the scion in back and front, leaving two on 

 each side and a leader ; when these have grown six 

 or eight inches, pinch off the extremities with the 

 finger and thumb, by which means each shoot will 

 throw out two others, and thus produce in autumn a 

 fan- shaped tree, with ten branches. Generally they 

 will bear two or three fruit the second year from the 



