ORDER TREES EARLY 43 



The price of nursery stock, in common with the price of 

 beefsteak, has advanced rapidly of late years, and what 

 constitutes a reasonable price to-day may be cheap a year from 

 now, but at the present writing apple trees, and good ones, can be 

 had at from $10 to $25 a hundred, pears $15 to $25, and peaches 

 $8 to $15. It is very desirable, when placing an order of any 

 considerable size, to get quotations from several different firms 

 and to ask for sample trees. In this way one secures a definite 

 standard of the quality or grade of stock, and from the several 

 quotations can often save money, since one firm may be low on 

 one part of the order while another firm is low on another part. 



Order Trees Early. — Having decided on our varieties and 

 where to buy the trees, get the order in early. This is advice 

 often given and seldom taken, but it is good advice nevertheless. 

 One may be sure of disappointments all along the line if he delays 

 too long ; varieties sold out, only two year trees to be had when he 

 wants one year trees, nothing but three foot and six foot sizes 

 left when he wants four to five foot, and so on. Get the order in 

 by January, if it is possible to do so. Of course, it is possible. 

 It is merely a question of doing it. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Compare general and special markets. 



2. Discuss the importance of *" heavy bearing " in a variety. 



3. How important is early bearing? 



4. Give some idea of the importance of health and vigor. 



5. How does size influence the choice of varieties for market? 



6. What colors are most in demand? 



7. How important do you consider " quality " in fruit ? 



8. Discuss the importance of good keeping quality in a variety. 



9. About how many varieties should be set in a commercial apple orchard? 



10. What is self-sterility? How does it influence the planting of orchards? 



11. Discuss the influence of temperature on the development of the first of 



apple trees. 



12. \Miat is the objection to setting new varieties? 



13. \Miat are the advantages of one- and two-year-old nursery trees? 



14. WTiat is the most desirable size of nursery tree? 



