THE AMERICAN FRUIT CULTURIST. 



CHAPTER I. 



LEADING PRINCIPLES OF THE GROWTH OF 

 TREES. 



THE formation of a large tree from a minute seed is one of 

 the most interesting and wonderful occurrences in nature. It 

 is important that the fruit culturist should so understand the 

 process as to know what will hasten it on one hand or retard it 

 on the other. By understanding these principles, the neces- 

 sary rules will be greatly simplified, and the directions ren- 

 dered more clear and obvious. 



GERMINATION. 



The first movement of the seed towards forming a new 

 plant is termed germination. After the plant is formed, and 

 its growth is carried on through the agency of its leaves, the 

 process is termed vegetation ; the latter immediately following 

 the former. 



To produce germination seeds require heat, moisture, and 

 air, but not light. It will be observed that these three requi- 

 sites are present when seeds are slightly buried in moist, 

 warm, mellow earth. Heat, although essential to all seeds, 

 varies in the degree required by different species. The chick- 

 weed, for instance, will vegetate nearly down to the freezing- 

 point ; while tropical or hot-house plants often need a blood 

 heat. Nearly every person has seen proofs of the necessity of 

 moisture for the germination of seeds indicated by the prac- 

 tice of watering newly-sown beds. The florist is aware that 

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