TRANSPLANT I KG FRUITS AND ORXAMKXTALR. Ill 



California one-year-old budded cherry- and plum-trees are 

 now preferred to older trees. Two-year-old apple- and 

 pear-trees are now valued and taken in preference to the 

 four-year-olds planted a few years ago by experienced 

 planters. These thrifty young trees are more excitable, 

 have a better root system in proportion to the top, can be 

 shaped as wanted, are easier to handle and plant, and in 

 practice are found to come into full bearing as soon as 

 older trees planted at the same time. 



119. Securing and Caring for Nursery Trees. If a local 

 nursery is near it is usually best to visit it and secure the 

 varieties doing best in the vicinity. If they must be 

 shipped in, take the same care in selecting varieties. In 

 both cases it is better to have the trees dug early and 

 heeled in near the orchard with tops to the south, as shown 

 in Fig. 57. When the buds begin to start .growth, it will 



FIG. 57. Heeling in, with tops to the south. 



be found that the rootlets have begun to grow and the cut 

 and broken roots that have been properly pruned with a 

 sharp knife are beginning to callus. They are now ready 

 to plant. Trees handled in this way, and planted when 

 the buds and rootlets are pushing, will start into rapid 

 growth at once. But the trees planted early, that stand 

 isolated in the dry spring winds until the time comes for 

 starting growth, are often too much dried to start desirable 

 growth, especially in the prairie States. 



In planting the heeled-in trees care must be taken not 

 to expose the roots. The best success is attained by taking 



