352 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are three or four years old. By supplying such trees, and even: 

 worse, if he is unscrupulous, substituting worthless varieties, a nur- 

 seryman or tree dealer is often able to make a low price that will tempt 

 the purchaser, who in the end will find that the trees would have beeu 

 dear as a gift. The fact that a healthy tree of a good variety may, in 

 good seasons, return a crop worth from ten to twenty or more dollars, 

 while the crop from a poor tree, even if it lives to come to maturity, 

 may not be worth gathering, should show everyone that too great care 

 cannot be taken in selecting the varieties and trees when planting an 

 orchard. 



In the present days of low prices, trees for an orchard can be ob- 

 tained for a comparatively small sum. If only a few trees are needed, 

 it may be well to secure them from a local agent, whose stock came 

 from a responsible nursery, as the cost for packing and express upon 

 a small bundle might be more than his commission, but if from 100 to 

 500 trees are needed, it will be better to get them directly from a nur- 

 sery. 



As a rule, the trees should be brought from the nearest reliable 

 nursery, when good trees of the kinds wanted can be obtained at a 

 reasonable price. 



If they have to be shipped in the cars, however, it will make but 

 little difference whether they are sent 50 or 150 miles, so far as the dis 

 tance is concerned. In selecting a nursery, however, it is well to 

 choose one with the soil and climate as much like those where the 

 orchard is located as is possible, but from the fact that some sections 

 do not have nurseries or they are not reliable, it often becomes neces- 

 sary to go some distance for the trees. If the trees needed cannot be 

 found in some local nursery, it will be well to send a list of the num- 

 bers and varieties required to several reliable firms, and obtain esti- 

 mates as to the cost. For not less than 500 trees of standard varieties, 

 medium size two-year, the cost should not be more than 6 or 7 cents 

 each, and the first-class trees should not be more than 8 cents. When 

 smaller numbers are wanted, the price will range from 8 to 15 cents^ 

 according to size of trees and number wanted. 



These prices are the highest that should be paid, as many reliable 

 nurseries quote prices by the thousand considerably less than those 

 given. It must not be forgotten, however, that these prices are for 

 trees at the nursery, and that there will be an additional charge of 

 nearly 1 cent per tree for small lots, for boxing and packing, and per- 

 haps as much more for freight. 



