CHAPTER VIII 



CALIFORNIA NURSERY OPERATIONS 



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

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

 formally declared by the victories of California tree growers at the 

 World's Fairs held in this country, where the highest premiums 

 have been awarded to Californians in nearly all classes in which 

 they exhibited since 1885/ 



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

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

 little worth while for the orchard planter to try to grow his owii 

 trees. In fact, the investment called for to purchase a good assort/ 

 ment of well-grown trees will be one of the best which the orchard) 

 planter can make. The professional grower, if he is honest and en- 

 terprising, 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. To those who may 

 be possessed of limited means, or who may like to use spare time 

 in growing trees, suggestions are offered. There will, however, b-e 

 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 piece of ground, 

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

 facilities for irrigation to be used whenever necessary to get 

 good growth. 



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

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

 spects 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. 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 situations, 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 inac- 

 cessible just at the time when the trees should be lifted for trans- 

 planting to orchard. 



