Winter Meeting. 239 



Men who are shrewd enough in other matters seem to know little of 

 what a tree should be at time of setting. I have seen orders delivered 

 in which there was not ten per cent worth setting. It is the practice 

 of many nurseries to sell their good trees to good customers who are 

 good judges, and through their agents all over the country work off 

 their inferior stock. Many trees are sickly, stunted arid lousy, but 

 there seems to be a general belief that a tree will come out. This is an 

 error most fatal to successful orchard growing. A poor calf is of 

 some value, considerable value these days, but a poor tree is of no value 

 whatever. Of all the swindles I know anything about the nursery 

 may be, and some times is, the greatest. 



It is not our purpose to make war on nurseries and tree dealers, for 

 there are many honorable men among them doing a legitimate busi- 

 ness, but in view of the fact that it is a question of but little time until 

 we shall have imported into our state, through foreign nurseries, every 

 form of pest known to the fruit industry, including San Jose scale, we 

 believe it our duty to protest. We indorse the action taken by our state 

 to quarantine against cattle affected with tuburculosis and see no reason 

 why like measures should not be applied to protect us against pests 

 destructive to the fruit industrv. The introduction of tuburculosis 

 would entail temporary loss, but the introduction of San Jose scale to 

 any considerable extent would mean utter ruin to the most promising 

 industrv of our state. In this matter safetv lies onlv in the most riaid 

 adherence to protective measures. But to return. 



In the selection of trees it should be borne in mind that the plant, 

 like the animal, has its organs of prehension, circulation, digestion and 

 respiration and that any serious disorder of the vital organs may be 

 readily detected and is sufficient reason for ditching the trees so affected. 

 The greatest care should be exercised at this point, and the want of such 

 care is responsible for much disappointment. 



After the trees have been selected, comes the planting, and this 

 indeed is an important matter, but we must pass it with only a few 

 observations on spacing and pruning at time of setting. Our reason 

 for speaking of the spacing of trees is because of a wide-spread error 

 held by many now in much favor, and since it is given out as advice 

 by men of experience it is causing many to do an unwise thing. 



