Fruit Cultivation 201 



direct from the soil in which they are grown, at the 

 lowest prices, by ordering through the mail. Or, 

 better still, if the nursery is not too far away, take 

 half a day off and select them in person. If you 

 want to help the agent along present him with the 

 amount of his commission, but get your trees direct 

 from some large reliable nursery. 



Well grown nursery stock will stand much abuse, 

 but it will not be at all improved by it. Do not 

 let yours stand around in the sun and wind, waiting 

 until you get a chance to set it out. As soon as you 

 get it home from the express office, unpack it and 

 ^'heel it in," in moist, but not wet, ground ; if under 

 a shed, so much the better. Dig out a narrow trench 

 and pack it in as thick as it will go, at an angle of 

 forty-five degrees to the natural position when 

 growing. So stored, it will keep a long time in 

 cold weather, only be careful that no rats, mice, or 

 rabbits reach it. 



Do not, however, depend upon this knowledge to 

 the extent of letting all your preparations for plant- 

 ing go until your stock is on hand. Be ready to 

 set it the day it arrives, if possible. 



PLANTING 



Planting can be done in either spring or fall. As 

 a general rule, north of Philadelphia and St. Louis, 

 spring planting will be best; south of that, fall 



