146 The Commercial Apple Industry 



more fibrous roots. Trees older than one year are often 

 poorly shaped. 



It is advisable to purchase nursery stock well in advance 

 of planting in order than one may secure stock of desired 

 variety and quality. If trees are to be planted in the 

 spring, they may be purchased safely in the preceding fall 

 and " heeled-in " by the grower himself. On arrival, all 

 trees should be carefully inspected for disease, attention 

 being given particularly to infestation of scale or woolly 

 aphis, or the presence of crown-gall. If possible, a com- 

 petent inspector should pass on the stock to see that the 

 trees are healthy, vigorous, and of smooth bright bark. 

 One-year old whips should be about 5 feet tall and % inch 

 in diameter at the base. 



The subject of varieties is thoroughly discussed in 

 Chapter XIX. Selection should be confined to three or 

 four standard varieties for commercial planting. 



Immediately on arrival, all trees should either be 

 planted or "heeled-in." If trees arrive in freezing 

 weather, they should be left in the original package and 

 kept in a cool damp place until thawed out. Qrdinarily, 

 however, the grower should avoid leaving the trees in the 

 original package lest they become seriously injured or 

 entirely worthless from drying out. 



When planting is not to be done immediately, the 

 bundles should be cut open and the trees unpacked and 

 " heeled-in " singly. Too much emphasis can not be 

 placed on the importance of " heeling-in " the trees on 

 their arrival. In this operation, a trench is dug about 18 

 inches deep and the trees placed in the trench with their 

 tops slanting to the south at an angle of about 45 degrees. 

 Moist soil should be carefully worked in about the roots of 



