654 THE FRIIT LMU'STJJY ix XEW YORK STATE 



little soil toward the seedling after it has been placed, and tramps 

 it. The stock is firmed with a firmer drawn by two horses. This 

 compacts the soil tightly round the roots. 



THE STOCK 



Seedlings of certain fruits, such as apples, are grown to a con- 

 siderable extent in this country. At the present time apples are 

 grown to a large degree in Kansas and Missouri, and to a lesser 

 degree in the East. Many eastern nurseries import their seedlings 

 from France, and some from Holland. The French is looked 

 upon with more favor because it seems to suit our conditions bet- 

 ter. The stock is graded according to its caliper, a grade of 



FIG. 166. PLAXTIXG NURSERY STOCK 



10-12 mm. sometimes being made in the case of apple and pear 

 more often 7-12 mm. The second grade is usually 5-10 mm. or 

 6-9 mm. ; third gradej 5-7 mm. ; and fourth grade, 3-5 mm. 



Prices vary, the first grade usually being worth three times as 

 much as the third grade. Sometimes the small grades are kept 

 in France and grown to be two years old. The buyer has to put 

 confidence in his importer, and one of the most remarkable things 

 about the whole nursery business is the fact that one must place 

 confidence in the grower all along. In the case of plum and 

 cherry, 5-9 mm. is a good grade; 3-5 mm. is also grown. 



With plum, cherry, pear, quince, and peach, it is customary to 

 propagate by budding. In the case of apples, both budding and 

 grafting are used. I am speaking now with particular reference 



