STARTING THE ORCHARD IQ 



part of their vitality. Yet if they are mismanaged, it 

 is always to their detriment. If the bark looks black 

 and shriveled, or if it is dry and hard, or if it is soft 

 and loose, peeling off readily when touched, then the 

 tree has not been well kept. It is likely to be in bad 

 condition and the chances are it will not grow. 



There is sometimes a controversy broached regard- 

 ing the comparative merits of northern and southern 

 grown nursery trees. So far as we are concerned 

 this is also involved with the question as to whether 

 or not it is best to plant trees grown in the immediate 

 neighborhood. There is a feeling in many quarters 

 that northern grown nursery trees are more hardy, 

 and in all cases this is supplemented by the feeling that 

 home-grown trees are likely to be more successful 

 through being already acclimated. Long observation 

 and experiment have convinced me that these points 

 are usually very much overdrawn. There may be 

 something in them at times, but I have really never 

 been able to see it, although the matter has been fre- 

 quently tested under my observation. If the tree is 

 sound, well grown, free from disease, well kept 

 and otherwise in good physical condition, it is a safe 

 tree to plant. Any inquiries as to its place of origin 

 are hardly worth while. Indeed, such inquiries are 

 quite likely to be futile, because it is nearly always im- 

 possible to ascertain where a certain tree has actually 

 been grown. Very few nurserymen grow all the trees 

 they sell. They depend on buying what they need in 

 whatever market is most advantageous. It is, there- 

 fore, a matter of considerable satisfaction to feel that 

 we do not need to trace the history of every tree, but 

 that we may plant with confidence any nursery stock 

 which conforms to the simple physical tests herewith 



