CHAPTER III 

 THE NURSERY 



General Considerations. The work of producing nur- 

 sery stock is usually considered as a business independent of 

 that of fruit growing, and in most cases is justly so treated. 

 The handling of a large nursery requires as much skill and 

 business ability as the handling of any other enterprise. 

 The novice or small fruit grower is usually no better quali- 

 fied to grow his own nursery stock than he would be to make 

 his own machinery. On the other hand some knowledge 

 of the principles of the business is essential even though 

 the hands have not been trained in the details. 



Most nurseries have their limitations due to the vari- 

 ous economic principles involved, and to the ability of 

 the management; and it has frequently happened that an 

 individual grower having some knowledge of the business 

 and a large amount of enthusiasm, often produces better 

 results than the nurseryman. Such people should grow 

 their own stock, but the average fruit grower having but 

 a few acres of orchard along with general farming can usually 

 do better by buying nursery stock of some reliable company. 

 There are, however, in every fruit-growing section orchard- 

 ists who devote their major efforts to the production of 

 fruits, and find it to their advantage to grow their own stock. 



It is no longer easy to start a nursery business on a 



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