ITS CULTUEE IN CALIFOENIA. 



43 



dicated by the dark green of the matured 

 foliage. If it have a yellowish cast, be- 

 ware of the tree. But do not confound 

 ihe sickly hue of the older leaves with the 

 yellowish green of the new growth. The 

 two are readily distinguishable. 



A False Economy. — Do not let meas- 

 ures of economy induce you to buy at 

 half the price trees that are undersized or 

 stunted, or diseased or infested. A young 

 orange tree which, from any cause, has 

 been checked in its growth, is more than 

 half ruined, and should not be subjected 

 to the additional shock of removal. 

 Though oared for in the best manner, it is 

 likely to prove a losing investment. You 

 should consider that the first cost of trees 

 is a mere bagatelle compared with the 

 items of land, time, and labor devoted, to 

 them to bring them to the fruiting age, 

 and that this greater expense must be in- 

 curred for poor trees as well as for good; 

 nay, more, the cost of raising may be 

 greater for the poor, and you get only 

 scrubs at last. 



The Way to Economize. — If you de- 

 sire to economize in your purchases, do so 

 by selecting younger trees, but never by 

 dispensing with thrift. Let the tree be as 

 healthy and sturdy and large as it ought 

 in reason to be at the age you buy it. 

 Yearling buds on three-year-old stocks 

 are often set. Some prefer them to the 

 older growth. 



A Good Way to Judge.— As good an 



index as one can have in judging of nur- 

 sery stock is to note the general character 

 of the nurseryman's place. If it have 

 neat, well-kept and thrifty appearance, 

 you may almost jump at the conclusion 

 that his young trees are in the same favor- 

 able condition. If, on the contrary, the 

 place is out at the elbows, the chances are 

 against the trees. Be on the lookout for 

 stunted or diseased or scaly stocks, or any 

 of the other ills that come from neglect. 

 In cases where the cultivation of a nur- 

 sery has been slighted, though the trees 

 may not show it except in their lack of 

 vigor, they are apt to die after transplant- 

 ing. 



Varieties. — Concerning the best varie- 

 ties of budded trees, the reader is referred 

 to the chapter on that subject. I would 

 advise the selection of one or two varieties 

 and the planting of these almost wholly. 

 Uniformity of fruit is a desideratum when 

 it comes to marketing. If you wish many 

 varieties, plant only one or two trees of 

 each, and leave the main body of the 

 orchard in one kind. 



Mark the Trees.— Having found the 

 trees you want, mark them with tags or 

 strings of some peculiar kind that the 

 nurseryman will recognize as yours. 

 Then make a small payment to secure 

 them beyond a peradventure, and with 

 the receipt in your pocket go home satis- 

 fied, that yoii have done a good day's - 

 work. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



LAYI^^G OFF THE ORCHARD. 



Importaxce of the Work.- The oper- 

 ation preliminary to planting is laying ofi:' 

 and staking the ground. Upon the ac- 

 curacy with which this is done depends 

 the symmetry of your orchard as long as 

 it exists. The neglect or carelessness of a 

 few hours at this juncture may result in 

 an "eye-sore" for half a lifetime. There- 

 fore, one can hardly be too painstaking. 



Established Methods. — Every man of 

 common sense knows, or thinks he knows, 

 how to measure oft^ and mark a piece of 



ground so that his trees will come in reg- 

 ular rows and the rows regularly dis- 

 posed. If he goes at it by "the rule of 

 thumb," he may or may not uccomplish 

 his purpose, but, in either event, he is 

 likely to incur needless work and bother. 

 It is better for him to inform hmaself in 

 advance of the various labor-saving de- 

 vices which have resulted from the ex- 

 perience of others; then adopt some- 

 method which seems to him most feasible., 

 and consistently pursue it.. 



