22 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTURE. 
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. J 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 
