HOW TO PROCURE TREES. 23 



can be more easily handled, are not so much 

 checked, and consequently more speedily recover 

 from the shock of transplanting. In addition to 

 these reasons, the best time to commence the 

 formation of symmetrical heads is when they are 

 young, about three years from the bud. The 

 peach is an exception. Being very rapid in 

 growth and forming fruit buds at once, it is de- 

 sirable to select trees but one year from the bud. 

 The subsequent directions given for pruning will 

 indicate that older trees are objectionable. 



Quality. Clean, straight, and thrifty trees 

 should be selected, such as have made vigorous 

 growth the year previous. It is quite useless to 

 mark the point of compass how the tree stood 

 in the nursery, as this will not affect the new 

 position in the slightest degree. It is, of course, 

 important to obtain good sound roots and plenty 

 of them. It is a mistake, however, to suppose 

 that minute, fibrous roots on the apple, standard 

 pear, and cherry are most desirable. Such as 

 these are too frail to endure the process of trans- 

 planting. It is the roots which are of the size of 

 a pipe-stem and upwards which have substance 

 enough to bear the change, and vitality to throw 

 out feeders at once. Good plantsmen often clean 

 out all the fine, fibrous roots, when they have a 

 supply of larger size, believing the first to be 



