296 PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



The cyanide is also a deadly poison and must be handled with great 

 care. It should never be placed within the reach of children as the 

 tempting crystals might easily be mistaken for candy, but a piece, if 

 put into the mouth, would cause almost instant death. 



Care of Trees After Delivery. 



There are hundreds of cases of trees dying after they have been 

 set in the orchard, where the blame for their loss has been unjustly 

 attached to the nurseryman. In handling trees it must be remembered 

 that it is unnatural for the root system to be exposed to the air, and 

 every precaution possible should be taken to prevent unnecessary 

 exposure, which will quickly cause a loss of moisture and possible 

 death. While trees will stand considerable exposure, and while roots 

 may become reasonably dry and still grow when covered with soil, 

 the ideal condition for them occurs only when moisture is present 

 in sufficient quantities so that the surface of the bark will not become 

 dry and shriveled. Yet so many nurserymen and orchardists thought- 

 lessly or otherwise allow the roots to be exposed during warm weather 

 until they become thoroughly dried out, and later wonder why the 

 trees fail to grow. Just as soon as a lot of trees is unpacked upon 

 arrival at their destination the roots should be covered in trenches, 

 a process known as "healing in." In the trenches trees may be 

 crowded close together, as it is not expected that they will be left long 

 enough for roots to start growth, but merely until the orchard is ready 

 to receive them. While heeled in they must, however, be kept moist 

 and under just as favorable conditions as in the orchard. 



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