184 



ESTABLISHING THE ORCHARD 



I 



nursery row in the spring and budded in late July or August 

 to the desired variety. In the latter case, the bud does not 

 begin to grow until the following spring. Peaches constitute 

 an exception in that they are grown from pits in this country 

 and are budded the first season. In Southern sections, they 

 are sometimes budded in June, the buds grow at once, and the 

 resulting trees are known as Jime buds. The age of trees in 



the nursery trade relates to the age 

 of the graft or bud from the time 

 it begins to grow on the stock. The 

 process of budding and grafting is 

 more fully described in the chapter 

 entitled ^Tropagating Fruit Plants." 



Peach trees are sold at one year 

 of age (Fig. 65), except June buds^ 

 which are younger. Sweet cherry 

 trees, somewhat difficult to trans- 

 plant, may best be purchased at one 

 year of age, though many are sold 

 at two years. Apples, pears, ^'sour 

 cherries and plums are commonly 

 sold when two years old (Tig. 66). 

 Older trees should not be purchased 

 for commercial purposes. The shock 

 of transplanting them is greater than 

 for younger trees, and their prolonged stay in the nursery row 

 reduces their vigor. 



There is an increasing demand by growers for strong one- 

 year apple trees, and to a less extent for one-year trees of the 

 other fruits commonly sold at two years of age. Such trees 

 cost a little less than two-year trees, transportation charges 

 are lower, they stand transplanting better, and start into 

 gro^i:h sooner. It costs less to set them because they can be 

 handled more easily and do not require so large a hole for 

 the roots. The chief consideration, however, in the apple 

 is that, since the one-year tree comes as a straight whip, the 



Fig. 65. Peach trees show- 

 ing the various sizes avail- 

 able for planting. Those 

 just at the left of the meas- 

 uring stick are popular. 



