598 FUNDAMENTAL."^ OF FRUIT PRODUCTION 



inherently incapable of being anything else. In practice the inferior 

 grades probably contain some stunted and some "runt " trees. The only 

 sure way of differentiating between them is the test of time which is 

 likely to prove more costly to the grower than the difference in price. 

 The inferior grades, therefore, should be regarded with suspicion. 



On the other hand, the extremely large tree is open to objections, seri- 

 ous in some cases. If the tree is large only because it is older, only be- 

 cause it has — as often happens — stood in the nursery an extra year or two, 

 it carries no guarantee of inherent good growth; on the contrary, the 

 presumption is against it. It may be only an elder runt. 



Gardeners know well that the smaller the plant the less disturbance 

 it suffers in transplanting and the more readily it reestablishes itself. A 

 large proportion of the root system of the larger trees is cut off in 

 digging. Data gathered in California show that the largest trees made 

 the smallest percentage diameter increase during the first year in the 

 orchard, indicating a slowness in adjusting themselves to the new loca- 

 tion." Furthermore, trees of unduly large size, produced sometimes by 

 over irrigation or heavy fertilization, are more liable to winter injury when 

 planted in the autumn. 



Other objections to the larger trees are voiced by Hendrickson :^^ 

 "Branches are often produced the first year in the nursery row. If 

 these branches could be utilized they would be a distinct advantage but 

 they are often broken or injured in the process of packing and must be 

 cut off when the tree is planted. In other cases the branching does not 

 begin near the bottom of the tree or the bottom branches have been 

 shaded out, and hence it is difficult to secure a low-headed tree by using 

 the branches produced in the nursery. Furthermore, the buds on the 

 lower portion are far apart and the tree has a tendency to grow from the 

 top buds. . . . 



"The small 1-year old tree as a rule, depending on the kind, produces 

 few or no side branches. Consequently the buds, instead of growing into 

 branches in the nursery, remain dormant until the following year. They 

 are also less liable to injury in packing. Consequently the small tree 

 within a few weeks after the beginning of the growing season is covered 

 from top to bottom with leaves and small branches. The growth is 

 generally more evenly distributed among the several growing points, 

 than in the case of the overgrown tree." 



Withal, "large" and "small" sizes, or even grades based on definite 

 measurements, are relative only. Different nursery fields, or the same 

 fields in different years, produce trees varying considerably in size. 

 Varieties differ more or less in their characteristic growths. Conse- 

 quentl}'' even among trees of the same age any grading must be on a rela- 

 tive basis; a certain caliper measurement may denote small trees in one 

 case and medium sized trees in another. 



