PROPAGATION 25 



set out at one year old. But even strong-growing 

 varieties of the common European pear are now 

 often sold from the nursery at the end of the first 

 year's growth. 



Peaches should never under any circumstances 

 be bought from the nursery at a greater age than 

 one year. On the other hand the so-called "June 

 buds" of the nurserymen represent only a half- 

 year's growth. While it may possibly be permis- 

 sible to use these in case of a great emergency, it 

 will be better to avoid them whenever the usual 

 one-year trees can be had. 



Plums vary so much in character that it is diffi- 

 cult to make any rule, except the general one in 

 favor of young trees. Very slow-growing varieties 

 may well be left for two years' growth in the nurs- 

 ery row, while vigorous-growing kinds are better 

 transplanted at one year old. The Japanese varie- 

 ties should always be planted out when one year 

 old. 



Even quinces do better if very strong one-year 

 trees can be used. As the quince is slow growing 

 by nature, it is hard to get trees heavy enough for 

 nursery sales at one year except on the best of soil, 

 and with the best of treatment. But such condi- 

 tions are precisely those which favor the interest of 

 the tree buyer, who should always prefer the heavy 

 one-year-old quince trees when he can get them. 



Something is said elsewhere about fall planting 

 versus spring planting of orchards. For fall plant- 

 ing it is obligatory that the trees be selected and 

 bought in midsummer or even earlier. But early 

 buying is a very important matter in any case, and 

 June or July is never too early to place orders for 

 trees to be used the following spring. Such orders 



