HOW TO GROW NURSERY STOCK. 145 



headed trees in rows four and one-half feet wide, and planted twelve 

 inches in the rows, than I can by closer planting. In order to have 

 the best success in planting grafts we must plant as early as the soil 

 and weather will permit. Plant as deep as it will do to plant them 

 and as firmly as possible without injury to the graft. We believe in 

 thorough cultivation from the start to the finish, but would not use 

 the cultivator after the first of July, leaving the ground as level as 

 possible. From this on we shave the ground with sharp hoes until 

 frosts kill the weeds. I can see no benefits to be derived by letting 

 weeds grow in any part of the nursery any time during the season. 

 The appearance of clean, well kept grounds has a very favorable in- 

 fluence on those visiting the nursery, besides being a source of great 

 satisfaction to the proprietor or manager of the grounds. 



The last two years we have adopted the plan of laying down our 

 yearling apple trees, as well as all shrubs, that are not perfectly hardy 

 and covering them with earth. It takes two men to do this work to 

 the best advantage, one man will take hold of the tree with one hand 

 near the ground, the other two-thirds the way to the top, the other 

 man with a spade will take away a little earth next the tree on the 

 side where the tree is to be laid down, the man who has hold of the 

 tree will quickly lay it down flat on the ground. The man with the 

 spade will then cover it with earth. In this way two men can lay 

 down and cover 3,000 largest sized yearling trees in a day. We lay 

 them all towards the south, and never spoil a tree, unless it is already 

 damaged, either in the root or body. In this way we thoroughly pro- 

 tect our young trees from the rabbits, which otherwise would girdle 

 and cut off a great many of them. It is also a perfect protection 

 against the most severe av inter weather. I am well satisfied with the 

 results of this practice. 



I think that proper pruning in the nursery is of great impor- 

 tance, so much so that in my judgment a tree cannot be a first-class 

 tree unless it be properly pruned from the start. The .nurseryman 

 should know how the tree should be formed to be adapted to the lo- 

 cality in which it is to be planted better than the average man who 

 plants them. Many of our patrons have lately come from states 

 where trees are headed high ; they have not had the time to investi- 

 gate or the experience to teach them just how the tree should be pruned 

 in this country. It is the nurseryman's business to form the heads of 

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