CHAPTER VI. 



Selection and Purchase of Trees. 



The selection of trees for an orange orchard is a prime factor 

 in the future success of the venture. The fully-established and 

 generally well-known reputation of a nursery are landmarks in 

 the journey for the selection of trees that cannot consistently be 

 overlooked. 



The healthy condition of the trees is the first item in which 

 caution must be exercised. If the trees be healthy, they will be 

 vigorous, and the foliage will be of a deep-green color. A tree 

 suffering with disease or from bad treatment always declares 

 the fact by its general appearance. 



Trees for an orchard should have straight trunks and evenly 

 balanced heads or tops, and be of a good strong growth. Trees 

 from three to five years old from the seed are the best to set ; 

 not less than three nor more than five is a good rule to adopt. 

 Old, dwarfed, scrubby, ill-shaped trees are dear at any price. 

 Vigorous, symmetrical trees of suitable age should be selected, 

 regardless of cost. Never look for low-priced trees, but rather 

 those of fair price and good quality. Nurserymen who consider 

 the wants of their customers cannot compete with careless, irre- 

 sponsible imposters in the business. I quote from an editorial 

 in the March number of the Southern California Horticulturist 

 for 1878 : 



"The nurserymen of Los Angeles county have been stepping 

 to the front during the past two or three years, and have raised 

 large quantities of trees for shipment. The raising of orange 

 trees at old-time prices was a very lucrative business, and nearly 

 everybody had a seed-bed and a small nursery. The result was, 

 the country became flooded with trees. Most of the small lots 



