XII.] WHAT IS A FIRST-CLASS TREE? 247 



our definition, of what constitutes a first-class tree is 

 at variance with the truth. We conceive a first-class 

 nursery tree to be one which gj*ows straight and smooth, 

 tall and stocky, whilst we know that very many — 

 perhaps half — the varieties of apples and pears and 

 plums will not grow that way. In order to make our 

 conception true, we grow those varieties which will 

 satisfy the definition, and, as a result, there is a con- 

 stant tendency to eliminate from our lists some of 

 the best and most profitable varieties. 



All this could be remedied if people were to be 

 taught that varieties of fruit trees may be just as 

 different and distinct in habit of growth as they are 

 in kind of fruit, and that a first-class tree is a well- 

 grown specimen which has the charaeteristtcs of the 

 variety. It seems to me that it is time for nursery- 

 men to begin to enforce this conception upon the 

 public. Why may not a catalogue explain that a 

 tree may be first-class and yet be crooked and gnarly? 

 Why not place the emphasis upon health and vigor, 

 and not upon mere shape and comeliness ? And why 

 may not a nurseryman give a list of those varieties 

 which are comely growers, and another list of those 

 which are wayward growers ? 



I am by no means convinced that the time has 

 come for the extended propagation of many of these 

 excellent but poor -growing varieties which the nur- 

 seryman has practically discarded because of their 

 unpleasant habit ; but I believe that a beginning 

 should be made in this direction. The question really 

 resolves itself into this : Are nurserymen now grow- 

 ing and pushing the varieties which are most useful 

 to fruit growing? Looking at the question from my 



