22 riELD :notes ox apple cultuhe. 



CHAPTER V. 



CHEAP FRUIT TREES. 



It is a common supposition that second-class fruit 

 trees, if healthy and clean, make as good orchards as 

 first-class trees. I once knew a grower to put the matter 

 in this way : "Second-class trees have as good roots as 

 any, and I can grow the tops to suit myself. They will 

 cost me a third or more less than first-class trees of the 

 same varieties, and I believe it will pay me to buy them." 

 He did buy them and set them. They were peach trees, 

 and as good as the ordinary run of second-class trees. 

 Most of the trees lived. There were some two hun- 

 dred of them. At the end of two years most of them 

 were dead or dying. Borers had been imported with 

 them from the nursery. The tops of most of the trees 

 were weak or crooked, and many had to be cut back 

 to the bud. The trees were given good culture, 

 though not the best. About the third year after the 

 trees were set I planted an orchard on the same 

 ground, and of all the former trees but one solitary 

 individual remained. This is a case of an experiment 

 with cheap trees. It is probably an extreme case, but 

 it does not convey too strong a lesson. I doubt if it 

 ever pays to buy second-class trees. They may grow 

 readily, but they do not make straight and clean trunks. 

 I am aware that some nurserymen advertise their second- 

 class stock to be just like their first-class stock, only 

 smaller. I have never seen such second-class trees, how- 

 ever. Of course the nurseryman cannot be particular 



