CHAPTER VIII 

 NURSERY OPERATIONS 



California nursery stock is unrivaled in growth, health and vigor. 

 This is the verdict of all the visiting horticulturists, and has been for- 

 mally declared by the victories of California tree growers at the World's 

 Fairs held in this country, where the highest premiums were awarded 

 to Calif ornians in nearly all classes in which they exhibited since 1885. 



The quality of the trees which can be purchased at our nurseries, 

 and the very reasonable rates at which they are sold, make it little 

 worth while for the orchard planter to try to grow his own trees. In 

 fact, the investment called for to purchase a good assortment of well- 

 grown trees will be one of the best which the orchard planter can 

 make. The professional grower, if he is honest and enterprising, can 

 give the purchaser the advantage of his experience and skill in the 

 choice of stocks suited to his soil, varieties of fruit adapted to his 

 situation, and be of assistance to him in other ways connected with his 

 enterprise ; and such helps to an inexperienced planter or to a newcomer 

 are very valuable. There may be, however, some reader who is distant 

 from established nurseries, or possessed of limited means, who may 

 like to use his spare time in growing his own trees, and to such sugges- 

 tions are offered. There will, however, be very much which can be 

 learned only by actual experience. 



In the selection of a location for a commercial nursery there are 

 matters involved which it is not proposed to discuss. Attention will 

 be paid rather to matters connected with what may be called a farm 

 nursery. The first point will be the selection of a small piece of ground, 

 which offers proper soil, exposure, and, in some parts of the State, 

 facilities for irrigation. 



Proper Soil for Nursery. The soil should be a mellow loam, 

 easy of cultivation and not disposed to crust and crack. In all respects 

 what one would choose as a rich, kind garden soil will answer well 

 for the nursery. The soil should be moist, but thoroughly drained, 

 either naturally or artificially, for time and labor will be largely wasted 

 on a water-logged soil. In this respect a soil which might yield fair 

 crops of some shallow-rooted vegetables would not always be suitable 

 for young trees, which, to do well, must have favorable conditions to 

 send the roots to considerable depth. Good spots are often found in 

 the rich loam along the banks of creeks, as in such situations one finds 

 generally a deep alluvium, well drained by the creek. But such situa- 

 tions, if liable to overflow, should be rejected because standing water 

 is not good for trees, and because the soil will be apt to be soaked with 

 water and inaccessible just at the time when the trees should be lifted 

 for transplanting to orchard. 



It is not always possible to find an ideal nursery spot on every 

 ranch, but still trees may be well grown on less favorable places if 



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