CHAPTER VIII 

 NURSERY OPERATIONS 



California nursery stock is unrivaled in growth, health, and 

 vigor. This is the verdict of all the visiting horticulturists, and has 

 been formally declared by the victories of California tree growers 

 at the World's Fairs held in this country, where the highest 

 premiums were awarded to Californians in nearly all classes in 

 which they exhibited since 1885. 



The quality of the trees which can be purchased at our nurseries, 

 and the very reasonable rates at which they are sold, make it little 

 worth while for the orchard planter to try to grow his own trees. 

 In fact, the investment called for to purchase a good assortment 

 of well-grown trees will be one of the best which the orchard 

 planter can make. The professional grower, if he is honest and 

 enterprising, can give the purchaser the advantage of his experi- 

 ence and skill in the choice of stocks suited to his soil, varieties 

 of fruit adapted to his situation, and be of assistance to him in 

 other ways connected with his enterprise ; and such helps to an 

 inexperienced planter or to a newcomer are very valuable. There 

 may be, however, some reader who is distant from established nur- 

 series, or possessed of limited means, who may like to use his 

 spare time in growing his own trees, and to such suggestions are 

 offered. There will, however, be very much which can be learned 

 only by actual experience. 



In the selection of location for a commercial nursery there are 

 matters involved which it is not proposed to discuss. Attention 

 will be paid rather to matters connected with what may be called 

 a farm nursery. The first point will be the selection of a small 

 piece of ground which offers proper soil, exposure, and, in some 

 parts of the State, facilities for irrigation. 



Proper Soil for Nursery. The soil should be a mellow loam, 

 easy of cultivation and not disposed to crust and crack. In all 

 respects what one would choose as a rich, kind garden soil will 

 answer well for the nursery. The soil should be moist, but thor- 

 oughly drained, either naturally or artificially, for time and labor 

 will be largely wasted on a water-logged soil. In this respect a 

 soil which might yield fair crops of some shallow-rooting vege- 

 tables would not always be suitable for young trees, which, to do 

 well, must have favorable conditions to send the roots to consider- 

 able depth. Good spots are often found in the rich loam along the 

 banks of creeks, as in such situations one finds generally a deep 

 alluvium, well drained by the creek. But such situations, if liable 



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