Practical Directions 279 



after many selections. The only important exception to this 

 general rule is to be made for those fine large trees especially 

 grown by certain nurserymen who supply them, at corre- 

 spondingly high pricies, for planters desiring immediate 

 effects. Freedom from insects and disease should be insured 

 by the state inspector's certificate; but unfortunately it is not 

 always a final test. Personal inspection by the buyer should 

 be added to official inspection in all cases. 



It is not important, as has often been claimed, that nursery 

 trees should be grown in the immediate locality where they 

 are to be used. There are certain practical advantages in 

 patronizing a nearby nursery, the most important being the 

 decreased risk of delay and damage in shipment. Aside 

 from these questions of convenience the buyer may fairly 

 choose that nursery which offers the best plants at the lowest 

 prices, — always having first care for the quahty of the 

 stock and second for price. 



When considerable quantities of nursery stock are required 

 to plant a place it will be found an excellent plan to send 

 duplicate lists of the requirements to several nurseries, asking 

 for itemized bids. Such bids will enable the buyer to place 

 his order to best advantage; and often he will find it expedient 

 to order a part of the bill from one nursery and a part from 

 another. When considerable amounts of stock of a single 

 size and variety are wanted nurserymen will often be glad 

 to send samples with the bids, in order that the buyer may 

 know exactly what he is to get. 



Large plants taken from nursery rows never become prop- 

 erly furnished, but always retain their spindly, bare, and 

 pinched-up appearance. Where larger things are wanted, 

 only such as have been grown separately in borders or as 

 specimens should be used. None but the smaller plants, if 

 obtained from rows in a nursery, will be at all satisfactory. 



