SELECTIKG STOCKS. 223 



domesticated and loBg-cultivated plant has also been long- 

 est exposed to diseases which often originate under forced 

 and unnatural conditions. 



In raising all kinds oi! tree and shrub stocks from seed, 

 a moderately light, porous soil is preferable to one of an 

 opposite character, as light soils tend to increase the num- 

 ber of fibrous roots. In heavy, compact soils, seedlings 

 may produce longer vertical or tap-roots and taller stems, 

 or we may say that they will grow larger in a given time 

 than in lighter and naturally poorer soils, but they will 

 usually produce a far less number of fibrous roots ; con- 

 sequently, less valuable for transplanting. The taller the 

 stem and longer the tap-root, the greater the amount of 

 each will have to be cut away when they are transplanted. 

 The best stocks, therefore, for all purposes, are those that 

 will lose the ]east when prepared for re-planting in nursery 

 rows or for potting. The raiser should seek great diam- 

 eter of stem and number of rootlets rather than length at 

 the sacrifice of breadth. Thick seeding tends to lessen 

 diameter and increase length, and while a greater num- 

 ber of plants may be produced on a given space by crowd- 

 ing, it is always at the expense of quality ; consequently, 

 height of stocks is not a safe guide for determining their 

 vigor or value, either in seedling stocks or older trees. 



There are certain kinds of trees, like the Oaks, Chest- 

 nut, Hickories, and English Walnut, which produce 

 rather long, sturdy vertical roots the first season, and 

 these poorly furnished with fibres, especially if raised on a 

 firm, hard soil ; but if the nuts are planted in light vege- 

 table mold or sand, their roots will be mainly fibrous, 

 with only a small central or tap-root, or none at all. 

 Nurserymen who make a specialty of raising such stocks 

 for grafting in pots, sow the nnts in shallow pots or boxes, 

 and in nearly pure sand, applying liquid manure as 

 needed, to insure a vigorous growth. 



