PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 293 



trees were grown safety would require their treatment by dipping in a 

 solution of Black Leaf "40," or, still better, fumigation with hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas. See formula No. 19. 



DIGGING AND CARE OF NURSERY TREES BEFORE THEY REACH 



THE PLANTER. 



The nurseryman's responsibility for the character of the orchards 

 that are grown from trees that he propagates is very great. When we 

 stop to consider the fact that practically all of the orchards are grown 

 from trees that are propagated by nurserymen whose duty it is to 

 know that the trees sold are true to name, free from dangerous insect 

 pests and disease, etc., we can begin to realize that the nurseryman's 

 trade is one of great importance, and that the man who conducts a 

 reputable business represents a type of public servant who is of inesti- 

 mable value to the horticultural industry of the state or locality where 

 he conducts his business. Conversely the nurseryman who is not reliable 

 and who thinks only of the present and the few dollars that his trade 

 brings him represents a public menace in that he retards the progress 

 of horticulture through the dissemination of his inferior stock. 



Digging. 



This operation is of much importance, owing to the fact that the 

 condition of the root system is largely dependent upon how the trees 

 are dug. The type of digger used in most of the nurseries consists of a 

 large plow with a more or less semicircular blade which cuts the roots 

 at any desired depth and lifts the trees partially from the soil so that 

 they can be easily pulled by hand. If diggers are run too shallow the 

 roots that are left on the trees are too short, and what might have been 

 first-class trees, if properly dug, are second rate. 



At the time of pulling, trees can easily be inspected for crown gall, 

 nematodes, borers, etc. Most of the nurserymen plan to throw out all 

 inferior trees at this time previous to tying in bunches of ten or twenty. 



Fumigation. 



The freshly dug trees after having been tied in bunches may be 

 hauled to the fumigating house where treatment for the pear root louse, 

 scale insects and other insect pests takes place. The value of fumigation 

 must not be minimized. When efficiency, cheapness and convenience of 

 the fumigation operation are taken into consideration, there is nothing 

 that will compare favorably with it for the treatment of nursery stock. 



Fumigating Buildings and Boxes. 



For the fumigation of nursery stock the all important requisite is a 

 perfectly tight box or house in which the gas can be confined for any 

 desired length of time without leakage. In order that this may be 

 possible careful construction is necessary. The usual fumigation house 

 consists of double boarded walls with heavy buildin'g paper between. 

 Doors of the type used on refrigerator cars are best. After a building 

 has been constructed the measurements must be carefully taken and the 

 cubical contents determined accurately. 



