APPLES 
sults when diluted with not more than 
eight parts of water. The miscible oils, 
of which there are many brands on the 
market, are well adapted to the dipping 
of the nursery stock. They should be 
diluted with about 15 parts of water The 
only precaution necessary regarding the 
use of these oils is to shake up the 
supply of oil thoroughly before drawing 
any off and to make sure that it com- 
pletely mixes with the water. A few 
drops in a glass of water should produce 
9g milk-like solution, without any free oil 
on the surface. Miscible oil, on account 
of its spreading action, is more likely to 
reach the insects that may be in protected 
positions. 
The only thing necessary in the way of 
equipment for dipping is a tank deep 
enough to accommodate the young trees 
after pruning. A tank four feet deep, if 
kept well filled with the mixture, will an- 
swer the purpose The trees are simply 
lowered into the bath, tops first, as far 
as the roots. They are then immediately 
withdrawn and the operation repeated. 
They are not allowed to remain in the 
liquid longer than is necessary to com- 
pletely coat their surfaces with the mix- 
ture. A limited number of experiments 
with miscible oil suggests that the roots 
may also be dipped. Such a procedure is 
not recommended, however, unless the 
roots are infested with woolly aphis. 
Cc. D. JaRvIis, 
Storrs, Conn. 
Selecting Stock 
After the tree has been successfully 
grown in the nursery the next step is 
naturally that of transferring it to its 
permanent place in the orchard. To the 
man, however, who must select his stock 
from some nursery not his own, there are 
several questions of importance. 
Selecting the individual trees to be 
planted requires some little thought, as 
oftentimes we lose a whole year by choos- 
ing poor and inferior trees. Care should 
be taken to secure first class trees of the 
proper type for each of the varieties se- 
lected and trees that are well grown, vig- 
orous, and free from diseases or blemishes. 
The ideal tree of most planters is one 
that is straight and smooth. The tree 
135 
may be straight and smooth or it may be 
crooked and gnarly. All this depends up- 
on the variety. Because a tree is crooked 
is not a sign that it is a poor specimen. 
That may be a characteristic of that va- 
riety. Some of the best varieties have 
crooked stems or ugly tops. Many plant- 
ers think that large size is of itself a 
great merit in a nursery tree. This is not 
always true. Vigor and stockiness are 
more important than large size. Buy first 
class, shapely, and well grown trees that 
have abundance of roots, free from such 
diseases as the crown gall or blackknot. 
In many states buyers require the nursery- 
men from whom they buy to give them a 
guarantee that the trees are free from all 
injurious insects and diseases. This rule 
ought to be adopted. While such a guar- 
antee does not absolutely prevent a tree 
from being infested with insects or dis- 
eases it lessens the probabilities of their 
being so infested. 
Place to Buy Trees 
(1) “Where can I buy fruit trees?” and, 
“Do fruit trees from the North, South, 
East or West do best in this climate?’ are 
questions frequently asked by orchardists. 
The question of the source of the tree is 
one which attracts considerable attention 
and bears some relation to the planter’s 
local conditions, but is one which cannot 
always be definitely answered. It in- 
volves a number of things such as the 
manner of growing the nursery stock, the 
distance to be shipped, the way the trees 
are packed when shipped, and the treat- 
ment of the trees when received. Appar- 
ently there seems to be no material differ- 
enc in the growth of the trees on account 
of their source, if the trees have been 
well grown, well packed, well taken care 
of, and well started when they are re- 
ceived. AS a rule, however, if all of 
these conditions be equal the home grown 
trees or those grown nearest you are to 
be preferred. 
(2) There are several reasons why it 
is usually advisable to patronize local 
nurserymen. They generally handle the 
varieties that are best adapted to local 
conditions. But if the local dealers have 
not the required varieties in stock, or if 
