66 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



the leaves to drop. In such cases it has been found desirable to select 

 lower and colder ground for the nursery of deciduous trees. 



Preparation for Nursery Ground. The best preparation tor 

 nursery ground is the growth, the previous season, of a cultivated or 

 hoed crop. This will secure frequent working of the soil, thorough 

 pulverization of the clods, etc. The produce of the hoed crop should 

 thus pay the cost of putting the land in good condition, at least. Where 

 the retention of moisture is an object, as it really is in some parts of 

 the State where the annual rainfall is sometimes small and no facilities 

 for irrigation provided, it will perhaps pay better in the end to keep 

 the land in bare fallow during the previous summer ; but there must be 

 frequent and thorough cultivation, keeping the surface always mellow, 

 more moisture will be lost by evaporation than a hoed crop would 

 require for its growth. Properly cultivated fallow soil will have a moist- 

 ure within a few inches of the surface, while unworked soil adjoining 

 will be baked hard and dry to a depth of several feet. During the 

 winter immediately preceding planting, the green stuff should be 

 allowed to grow for a time, but should be plowed under before it gets 

 high enough to interfere with perfect turning of smooth furrows. 

 The decay of this green crop is of advantage to the soil. Another plow- 

 ing in the spring, and a thorough harrowing, will leave the ground in 

 good condition to receive the pits or root grafts, as the case may be. 

 In this plowing for nursery there should be deep work done and sub- 

 soiling, as will be more fully set forth under the head of preparing land 

 for orchard, to which the reader is referred. 



Growth of Seedlings for the Nursery. The two chief ways of 

 producing fruit trees are, from seedlings grown on the spot ; second, 

 from buds and root grafts upon stock imported from the East or from 

 abroad. First, as to the growth of seedlings: 



It is usual to take seeds from sources where they can be collected 

 with the least trouble. Apple seeds are washed out from the pomace 

 of the cider press; apples and pears from the coring and peelings of 

 canneries and drying establishments ; pits of the stone fruits are derived 

 from the same source. Supplies can usually be purchased from such 

 establishments at a moderate cost. The trouble is that from such 

 supplies one is apt to get seeds and pits from all varieties, possessing 

 different degrees of health and vigor. There is just as much to be 

 gained from selecting the seed from which to grow good strong stocks 

 for fruit trees as there is in selecting good garden or field seed. One 

 can generally get good peach pits, for it is easy to have the order filled . 

 when the cannery is running on strong-growing yellow varieties, for 

 these are believed to be most vigorous, and yet some claim much prefer- 

 ence for pits from vigorous seedling trees, and made extra efforts 

 to secure them. Wherever it is possible, and if one is only to 

 produce a small lot of trees, it is practicable to select from the fruit 

 the seeds for planting. Not only is there great difference in the strength 

 of different varieties, but individual trees vary greatly. If one is taking 

 seeds from an old orchard to start his nursery with, he can take pains 

 to get his seed from his strongest trees, and thus secure also that which 

 is probably best adapted to his locality. 



