GENERAL PRACTICE. CHOICE OF TREES. HS 



and with indications of free growth. Avoid the gross tree : it has correspondingly gross 

 roots, long, fibreless, and will transplant badly, wasting time in recuperation. Size of 

 top is not so desirable as well-matured wood and plenty of roots. Eschew the stunted 

 tree : its early puberty is significant of permanent weakness, and indicates premature 

 collapse. This mostly proceeds from an imperfect union of the stock and scion, giving 

 rise to an enlargement at the junction, through a contortion of the sap vessels pre- 

 venting the free passage of the descending current. In the selection of trees it should 

 be remembered that the distinctive features of each variety must be kept in mind, for 

 they differ widely. Some are small, others medium, and many large in growth. In 



Fig. 30. TEEEACE PLANTING. 



many cases it is the wisest and always the most economical, to entrust orders to nursery- 

 men who not only grow trees for sale, but fruit them before placing young stock in 

 the market. Those with a reputation to keep, or one to make, by the supply of a 

 genuine article may be entrusted with orders. Cheap lots, trees taken from market to 

 market by retailers, are usually dear at any price, and big trees offered for u little 

 money are often tainted with spuriousness. Trees of medium vigour are generally 

 well furnished with fibrous roots, and such trees are far better than others of twice the 

 size with not half the roots. Clean, healthy, medium-sized, well-rooted trees carefully 

 planted will prosper with a tithe of the trouble that must be bestowed on those which 

 YOL. i. u 



