SELECTING NURSERY STOCK 61 



Trees and plants. Having selected the list of varieties and the 

 nursery from which they are to come, there remains only the selec- 

 tion of the plants themselves. If the nursery is within easy reach 

 it is well if the planter can personally select his own trees. The 

 experienced planter will not be so much concerned that the bodies be 

 perfectly straight and smooth as he will that the roots be numer- 

 ous, well spread and stout and the top and roots be clean and vig- 

 orous. Never plant a cull or second grade tree. There is, however, 

 a world of difference between a second grade tree and a second size 

 tree. A second size tree has all the possibilities of the first size 



BHBHt 



Nursery stock heeled in for winter 



tree but simply grew in a more crowded portion of the row. In 

 this connection note the three peach trees in the illustration on page 

 58. The horizontal line shows where the three trees should be 

 normally headed at planting. If this is done the heavy one at the 

 left will be cut back beyond the strong buds, and dependence will 

 have to be placed upon the weak branches which are so often injured 

 in packing, or upon adventitious buds, for the top. The middle tree 

 is a medium-sized tree. Topping at the indicated height will leave 

 a number of strong buds to form the head. The third tree, scarcely 

 discernible against the background, does not reach the line and is 

 too weak to waste room upon in the orchard. City people are more 

 susceptible to the charms of oversize trees than experienced 

 orchardists. 



