Success in Fruit-Growing 
NeoBbo, Mo. 
^^^^^ What Age of Trees to Buy — The older the tree when it is dug in the nursery for trans- 
^^^^^^^ planting, the greater the shock it suffers. Most nurseries offer no fruit trees over two years 
old. That is, the top and root have grown two seasons in the nursery, and the root has 
W jI^^V grown one season previously as a seedling. 
^"^^Bf Some kinds are seldom grown more than one year in the nursery. For instance, the 
peach is a fast-growing tree, and at the end of two growing seasons would be so large that 
it would not stand the shock of transplanting satisfactorily, the nurseryman would have to charge 
more, and the cost of transportation and setting would be higher. 
With apple trees, the majority of experienced planters 
now prefer one-year-olds. Where the soil is thin or the 
growing season is short, the two-year is often preferred. As 
two-year trees take one season longer to grow, they cost the 
nurserj-man more and usually he charges the planter more. 
The grafted nursery tree does not, as a rule, make sufficient 
growth in one season to attain size enough to put on the 
market. 
With favorable soil and climate and with proper culture 
the budded apple does attain marketable size in one year, 
and the root system is as old as that of the graft at the end 
of its second year in the nurserj-. 
"The advartages of the ODe-year apple trees are that they usually 
coat less, they are more readily shipped aud traosplanted. Thot-e fit for 
Bale are sure to be sirorg growers and their heads caD be formed as de- 
sired." — Bulletin No. 128 Pennsylvania State College, Agricultural Ex- 
periment Station. 
The almost unprecedented winter of 1917-18 injured 
the tops of our two-year apple to such a degree that it is 
impossible to be sure which trees in the row are sound and 
good without cutting the trunk. This of course spoils the 
tree. Rather than run any risk of giving dissatisfaction, we 
are offering no two-year this season (Fall, 1918-Si;ring, 1919)- 
However, we have our usual fine stock of one-year apple, 
which will please the most critical buyer. In this connection, 
read the opinion of a successful grower, Dr. J. H. Funk, the 
author of "Fruits for Pennsylvania," a 295-page bulletin. 
No. 152, issued by the State Department of Agriculture: 
"When yoa get a tree 4 to 6 feet from the bud (one-year bud, two- 
year stock), you have toe very cream out of the nursery. Anyone farnil- 
lar with nursery busiress knows that comparatively few attain that size 
at that age, tne larger proportion being from 1 to 2 feet. But w'hcD you 
get trees up to 4, 5, or 6 feet, you have a tree with strong individuality, 
a strong root system, one that when properly pruned in root and top 
scarcely feels the effects of transplanting; and I will guarantee they will 
oome into profitable bearing sooner, and that in the first ten years of 
their existence in the orchard they will produce 50 per cent more fruit 
than the older trees." 
Which trees are worth more— the 5 on the left (A), or the 6 on 
the right (B)? All these trees would be put into one grade if graded 
by height. But we grade by caliper (diameter), and the Sat the 
right go into XX grade, the 6 at the left into the XXX grade 
When Should Trees Bear — Sometimes we are asked to 
supply "bearing-age" or "ready-to-bear" fruit trees. If one 
could find good 3, 4, or .5-year-old trees and could trans- 
plant dirt and all, possibly they would bear within a year 
or two. The time it takes a tree to come into bearing dates 
OaU for your trees promptly. 
from the time it was transplanted from the nursery and de- 
pends upon many factors: securing first-class nursery stock 
in good condition, proper preparation of the ground, careful 
setting out, favorable soil, climate and weather conditions, 
proper care, etc. Some varieties will not bear fruit unless 
other varieties are planted near them for 
cross- pollination. Everbearing strawberries 
set out in the spring will produce the same 
year. Standard strawberries, raspberries, 
blackberries, dewberries, gooseberries, and 
grapes begin to bear the second or third 
year; peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, the 
third year. Some varieties of pear and ap- 
ple bear comparatively young— about the 
fourth year. Some of our customers have 
picked Delicious apples the second season. 
That is very unusual, and not altogether de- 
sirable — since a young tree can hardly be 
expected to grow fruit and make a desirable 
growth too. 
How to Handle Trees on Arrival — Don't 
leave your trees in the express or freight 
office a single day. See if they are in 
The looner they »re in the ground the better good shape — if the bark is shriveled or 
