164- POMEROY ON FRUIT PLANTATIONS, 
which remains of the stock, forming a considerate 
projection where the graft was inserted. Great care 
should be taken in the choice of stocks, independent of 
that to ascertain the seed from which they are raised. 
At a very early date, a pretty accurate judgment may 
be formed of the future success of the plant; at two or 
three years growth, many will be found to put out 
thorns; others will be disposed to throw up shoots 
from their roots ; both should be invariably removed 
immediately. 
An improved practice in grafting has been lately 
introduced, and deserves to be more generally adopted. 
Instead of taking off the entire head of the stock, it is 
left on till the boughs are laroe enough to receive the 
grafts. An injury to which the trees in general are 
liable (splitting in the crown) is by this means, in a 
great measure, avoided. The common soil, or clay, 
used to defend the grafts, is apt to crack, and fall off 
in dry weather ; and a compost of sand, and new cow 
or horse dung, would be an useful improvement. The 
absorbent system of plants being now generally ad¬ 
mitted, it is an inquiry worth attention, how far the 
practice of taking off the whole head of the tree, in 
grafting, may prove prejudicial to its growth. The 
spare trunks of the lopped elms of the district, stretch¬ 
ing out their small heads to the length they do, in 
quest probably of nourishment they have been deprived 
of, certainly countenance the suspicion. 
In preparing the ground, something more than the 
mere sinking of a hole capable of receiving the roots, 
ought to be done. The openings should be made at 
least two feet deep, and for some considerable time 
before-hand (the longer in reason the better) ; the 
earth, more particularly that from the bottom, should 
be 
