75 



permits or certificates which assure reasonable immunity 

 from such pests, but as it is impossible for an inspector to 

 examine every tree, the buyer should keep a sharp look-out 

 on his own account and reject infested stock. 



All plants should be well grown, thrifty, and be well 

 rooted for their kinds. Trees should be typical of their 

 variety whether it be naturally a straight vigorous grower, 

 a crooked grower, or a weak grower. Farmers often buy 

 trees from agents because they look like nice trees and pay 

 no attention to the variety. In planting commercial or- 

 chards, only standard sorts should be chosen. Up-to-date 

 nurseries seldom make mistakes of substitution for stan- 

 dard varieties. Direct dealing with the nursery is prefer- 

 able to ordering through agents, especially where large 

 numbers of trees are to be used. 



The ages of trees wanted should be clearly specified. 

 In apples, pears, phuus, and cherries, two year old stock 

 will be found satisfactory. "Peaches are planted at one 

 year old and there is a growing demand for one year old 

 apple trees. Generally speaking the specialist should lise 

 one year old stock and the farmer who grows fruit as a side 

 line should use two year old trees. I strongly advise against 

 using any trees older than two years. 



Finally, the planter should insist on an early delivery 

 of the trees. April 1st being about right for the southern 

 half of New Hampshire. A tree planted as soon as the frost 

 is out of the ground in April (or March if the opportunity 

 should present itself) will become established and ready for 

 a full season's growth by the time growth should normally 

 commence. A late planted tree will require so long to start 

 root action and establish itself in the ground that it will 

 lose a season's growth. 



Arangement of Trees in the Orchard ' 



The arrangement will depend largely on the system of 

 management which the orchardist proposes to follow. The 

 specialist who proposed to make his trees yield the largest 

 possible income from the very earliest period will use fill- 

 ers and arrange his trees to permit the cutting out -of his 

 fillers at the proper time and leave his orchard in desirable 

 arrangement for later operations. He will plant on a rec- 

 tangular system with trees in the center of each rectangle 



