48 



The mode of stopping pursued by Mr. Campbell 

 is judicious indeed ; and could our nurserymen be 

 persuaded to adopt a similar plan, it would be of im- 

 mense benefit to the purchaser. In the nurseries, 

 the peach and nectarine are propagated by budding 

 in J uly. The head of the stock is cut off in the next 

 February, and the gross stock of course puts forth a 

 shoot strong enough for a whip handle. This, in- 

 stead of being pinched off when about six or eight 

 inches long, is suffered to ramble some five or six feet, 

 in order to produce a plant of a specious character, 

 termed a strong maiden.'^ Who can wonder that 

 the large wounds which must occur in thus heading 

 back should have a continual tendency to gum ? In- 

 deed, we have no hesitation in saying, that the seeds 

 of premature decay are deposited at this very period ; 

 the e\il being greater in proportion to the gross and 

 showy character of the maiden plant. 



A great objection to grafting is its being more 

 uncertain than budding, owing to the excessive flow 

 of sap or gum from the wound. Dr. Page, of Al- 

 bany, in the United States, has obviated this by his 

 mode of treatment. He says that the peach tree is 

 of more rapid growth than any of the other x\raerican 

 orchard trees, and frequently, in congenial soils, the 

 first year from the seed, attains the height of six 

 feet, with stems from one inch to one inch and a half 

 diameter. The circulation, of course, must be very 



