38 MY VINEYARD. 



much success, that I am induced to give them in the hope 

 that they may be of benefit to those whose experience has 

 been more limited than mine. Among them was the 

 planting of the orchard. The first thing to be done was 

 to secure in good season a supply of trees. My method 

 of accomplishing this will be readily understood from an 

 order to a nurseryman of good reputation then located at 

 Toledo. I do not consider it a model of a business letter, 

 but it was effectual in securing trees of the very first 

 quality. 



" Your circular, stating price and size of apple trees, is 

 received. I am desirous of obtaining some of extra quali- 

 ty, and will pay you twenty-jive per cent, in addition to 

 the usual j^rice if you will send just the trees I want. In 

 the first place, I want them as uniform in size (six feet in 

 height) as it is possible to obtain; and secondly, I am 

 desirous of obtaining only those which begin to branch 

 near the ground ; and lastly, I wish to have the greatest 

 care taken in digging, so that the roots may be in the 

 greatest abundance, and as little injured as j^ossible. 

 Please also give the roots the least possible exposure to 

 sun and air, and have the trees packed in the best manner."" 

 Then followed an enumeration of varieties, of which Bald- 

 wins and Rhode Island Greenings constituted seventy-five 

 per cent. When the trees came to hand they were exactly 

 suited to my mind. The additional price paid for them 



