VARIOUS KINDS OF NURSERY TREES 79 



a height of about two and a half or three feet in the nursery. This 

 soon forces a growth of lateral branches, which are in turn pinched 

 after they have grown out a couple of feet. The result is the forma- 

 tion of a head on a nursery tree the first year, and when such trees 

 are planted in orchard they are merely cut back on the laterals, leav- 

 ing the head as formed in the nursery. Such trees are difficult to 

 handle in packing, and take much room in shipment. There may, 

 however, be an advantage in such practice for the home grower if he 

 is situated in parts of the State where the greatest season's growth 

 is attained. Orchard planters generally, however, prefer a June bud 

 or a yearling of moderate growth, without laterals. 



CLASSES OF NURSERY STOCKS 



The several classes of stock which are to be had from nurseries 

 are as follows : 



Root Grafts. These are seedling roots, or pieces of them, on 

 which scions of the desired variety have been grafted on the bench 

 and the junction healed over in the cellar. No growth has yet started 

 in the scion. If the tree planter wishes this kind of stock, he should 

 plant it out in nursery row in the spring and remove the trees to 

 orchard the following winter. 



June Buds. For multiplying varieties very fast, buds may be 

 kept dormant in a cool place ; and put into seedling stocks as early 

 in the season as the bark slips well, as already described. It is much 

 more common to use early buds of the current season's growth and 

 their readiness may be hastened by pinching tips of new shoots from 

 which they are to be taken, which forces development of lateral buds. 

 After budding, the top of the stock is girdled with knife or cord, or 

 partly cut away, and growth is forced on the bud so as to give a small 

 tree at the end of the first summer. This method of propagation is 

 most popular in the foothill districts, where small trees are preferred 

 for transplanting. 



Dormant Buds. Trees are sold in dormant bud when they are 

 lifted from the nursery and sent out before any growth has started 

 on the inserted bud. The bud should be seen to be the color of 

 healthy bark. Such trees should only be used when yearlings are 

 not to be had and gain in time is very important. Care must be 

 constantly taken that growth starts from the right bud, and that it 

 be protected from breaking off by wind or animals. A considerable 

 percentage of loss is usual, and extra dormant buds should be 

 planted in nursery rows to fill vacancies. 



Yearling Trees. These are trees which have made one season's 

 growth from the bud or graft. Two-year-olds have made two sea- 

 sons' growth, and so on. The proper way to count the life of a tree 

 is from the starting of growth in the bud or graft, for this point is 

 really the birth of the visible parts of the tree. 



