64 



MANUAL OF GENERAL AGRICULTURE 



either of these months. In selecting the bud go to some 

 tree that produces the desired variety of fruit and cut off 

 a few vigorous growing limbs. Carry limbs and all to the 

 nursery and then cut and insert buds as described in Ex- 

 ercise 59. 



6. Heading Back to the Bud. After the bud has 

 grown into a branch from four to six inches long, head 

 back to the bud by cutting with a sharp knife the main 

 stock completely off just above the bud. (Fig. lie). 



7. Digging the Nursery Trees. The following Feb- 

 ruary the trees will be about two years old from the seed, 

 but the age of a tree is not reckoned from the time of 



planting the seed, but from the time of 

 inserting the bud or graft. Our trees are 

 therefore considered as one year old. 

 (Large nurserymen often obtain one year 

 old seedlings from France at a low cost, 

 thus saving a year's time.) 



In February dig the trees from the nur- 

 sery rows so as to obtain a large number 

 of small branching roots. (Previous to 

 digging, the orchard should be made, 

 ready to>eceive the young trees as de- 

 scribed in Exercise 60.) In lifting 

 from the nursery, digging with a well- 

 sharpened spade, which will sever the 

 long roots cleanly, is perhaps the best 

 method. The tap root cuts no figure in 

 California orchard planting, but it is im- 

 portant to have as many small lateral 

 roots as possible. Any broken roots 

 should be clipped off. Do not permit the 

 roots after lifting, to dry out. Cover them with wet sacks 

 or wet straw unless they are to be planted immediately. 

 If trees after digging are not to be planted the same 

 day they may be kept by being "healed in." To heal in, 

 dig a trench in light, moist, but well drained soil ; put the 

 trees in singly, side by side, laying the tops all one way, 

 then shovel the earth over the roots until they are well 



Fig. 3. 



