16 
RECEIPT OF TREES 
Call for your trees promptly. The sooner they are In the ground the better. 
Receipt of Trees 
It is the duty of the nurseryman to deliver trees in perfect condition 
and the fruit-grower for his own interests should get them into the ground 
without any loss of vigor. Many growers who are pointed out as success- 
ful fruit men do not take the precautions they should. They are successful 
with their trees, they have grown orchards and make money, but they do 
not realize that it is possible to bring an orchard into bearing a year or 
possibly two years sooner by using a little extra care and getting the 
trees from the nursery to their orchard without any loss of vitality. 
Call promptly for trees as soon as they arrive. Do not allow them 
to remain in the express office or freight oiiice. In case there has been 
any delay in transit, have your local agent trace them and also notify the 
nursery to have them traced by wire. Examine the trees to see if they are 
in good shape. As a rule they are handled with special care by railroad 
employes, but if anything seems to be wrong, notify the nursery prompt- 
ly. Some people will set out their trees and neglect them. Then, if the 
trees do not survive, they write to the nurserymen some months later that 
the trees did not reach them in good condition. If there is any doubt at 
all, report the condition at the time they are received, even though you 
think the trees will be right anyway. Most nurserymen are willing to 
make good any loss of this kind when they know there is a just cause 
for complaint. 
If possible plant the trees immediately. The sooner they can be 
put in the ground the better. During a spell of cold weather the box or 
bundle can be put in a cool cellar or barn and covered with straw. One or 
two boards should be lifted from the top of the box and the stock exam- 
ined to see if it is in good condition. 
If the weather is warm when they arrive and you are not ready to 
plant, unpack immediately, and heel-in or place them in a cool cellar, 
covering the roots with damp packing from the box or bundle, and spread 
old sacks or canvas over them. Do not allow them to dry out. Sprinkle 
the package just enough to keep the trees from drying out, but do not put 
enough water on to drench the roots and tops. Remember that a tree is 
a living thing, and can be injured even though it is dormant at the time 
it is handled. Keep this in mind, and thus avoid trouble or loss. 
