158 
CULTIVATION OF THE TEACH. 
roots we have the means of being acquainted. 
The development of the plants, when worked 
upon the stock we have recommended, is not 
in all cases the most luxuriant ; for on those 
which are termed the free-stocks, this quality 
is far more apparent ; and hence, perhaps, a 
person who was not somewhat acquainted 
with their nature would he liable to make a 
rash and imprudent choice : their growth, 
though by no means rendered weakly, is more 
subdued ; the rigidity of the stem serves to 
regulate the supply of alimentary matter car- 
ried into the branches and the leaves, and, in 
consequence, this becomes properly digested 
and assimilated, thereby securing the perfect 
healthiness and real vigour of the plants, and 
avoiding a bloated or plethoric state of the 
vital organs, which, although it would, perhaps, 
not at the first be detected, would most assu- 
redly lay the foundation of future disease, and 
consequent disappointment. 
The comparative merits of the muscle and 
the pear-plum stocks may soon be told : the 
former is best adapted for those varieties 
which are of British origin, and are therefore 
somewhat more hardy in their constitution ; 
whilst the latter is more peculiarly suited to 
the French varieties, which, though of first- 
rate excellence, are, to a certain degree, more 
tender in their nature than those which have 
originated in our own country. 
It has already been stated, that when the 
stocks are originated from the kernel, they 
are liable to considerable variation, and are 
on that account objectionable : the method 
which is practised in obtaining these stocks 
true to their respective characters is by means 
of root-propagation; portions of the roots of 
these plants are taken when about the thick- 
ness of the finger, or somewhat less, and, after 
being divested of all fibrous appurtenances, 
they are cut into lengths of from four to six 
inches; this is done any time in winter; and 
in the spring they are planted in nursery rows, 
rather thickly, at about three inches below the 
surface. These roots are procured either by 
digging around an old tree, and taking off a 
portion of those which are of sufficient size, 
or it generally happens that the necessary 
root-pruning attendant on a transplantation 
of established stocks will furnish a new sup- 
ply. When planted, they should be placed in 
a sloping position, forming an angle of about 
45° with the surface of the soil ; this position 
will enable them more readily to throw up 
their shoots, and also extend their roots ; the 
operation may be performed any time during 
the winter, or early in the spring ; and by the 
next spring they will require transplanting, 
and will need also a greater space in which to 
grow ; they should be pruned up to a single 
straight stem the first season, and may after- 
wards be kept headed back, with a view to 
increase the strength and thickness of that 
part. They are usually budded at about six 
inches from the ground, and when they have 
attained to about the thickness of the linger. 
Budding should be performed about the 
middle of July, or as near that time as the 
bark will be found to separate freely, or "rise" 
from the wood ; if done earlier, the buds will 
often push into growth during the autumn 
months, and are then liable to sustain great 
injury, in consequence of their shoots not being 
matured before the winter ; on the other hand, 
if done later, the union is not in all cases so 
perfect and satisfactory. We have already 
observed, that it is unnecessary to detail the 
art of budding ; neither will it be requisite 
here to give lengthened directions for the care 
of the tree during the time immediately fol- 
lowing the operation ; the principal points re- 
quiring attention at this stage of growth are, 
to unloosen whatever bandage may be em- 
ployed to secure the bud, before the stem 
becomes injured by compression, and also to 
guard against any injuries which might arise 
from bruises, occasioned by careless work- 
manship, or movements about the plants. 
It may be worth while to remark, that the 
Peach is sometimes worked upon the stem of 
the common wild sloe : the effect of this is 
just what might have been anticipated: the 
plants so treated make but little wood, neither 
is this little at all strong or luxurious ; it is in 
consequence well matured, and the trees are 
thus in a condition to produce very early fruit. 
The principal advantage to which this might 
be turned, would be in the growth of Peaches 
in very late and cold situations ; for this in- 
duction of earliness would serve to bring for- 
ward the fruit soon enough to become ripened 
in such situations. The size of the fruit, 
however, as well as of the branches, and ex- 
tent and duration of the trees, would by this 
means be considerably lessened. 
It is unnecessary to notice any other mode 
of propagation. The Peach-tree may be in- 
creased by any of the processes which succeed 
with other plants of the same habit of growth; 
but they are neither so readily performed nor 
attended with such satisfactory results as the 
mode we have been considering. That method 
is generally adopted, in consequence of its 
being expeditious and easy of accomplishment, 
as well as adapted to the circumstances under 
which the plant is cultivated. 
This part of the subject includes the con- 
sideration of the preparation of the soil, the 
time, and the manner of planting. 
The Peach does not attain perfection in this 
country when grown as an open standard tree. 
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