A Few Suggestions. 
AL,IFORNIA is to-day the greatest fruit-producing country in the world. The 
high intelligence of its fruit-growers has largely brought this about. Neverthe- 
less mistakes are sometimes made in the selection of location and varieties. Every 
fruit-grower should have a model orchard, and there is no difficulty about it if a 
systematic beginning be made. 
Trees should be purchased from reliable nurserymen, who have a reputation at 
stake and cannot afiford to send out stock untrue to name or infested with insect 
pests. 
The location of land to beiplanted, its relation to the railroad, the character of 
the soil and of the water (if irrigation be necessary), should be carefully considered, 
and varieties selected which will not only thrive, but can be made profitable for dry- 
ing, canning or shipping green. Where several varieties are to be planted they 
should be selected so that they will not ripen at the same time. 
The situation of the orchard having been decided upon, the ground should be 
deeply plowed, subsoiled and thoroughly pulverized. The holes should be dug at 
least a foot larger in every direction than the roots actually require when spread 
out in their natural position. Cutoff all broken roots and prune (the roots) when, too 
long. In planting, the top soil should be first broken down into the hole and worked 
carefully around the roots; this can be best done by gently jerking the tree and thus 
shaking the soil around the roots; when about half filled up, press down with the 
foot; then add a little more soil and press again; now fill up the balance a little 
higher than the ground round about, leaving this without pressing. The tree, when 
planted, may, in light soils, stand from two to three inches deeper than it stood in 
the nursery; but in heavy, clayey or wet ground it is advisable to have it stand 
about the same depth as it was before transplanting. 
With regard to "cutting back," that depends a good deal upon the locality in 
which the trees are planted. In the warm sections cut back one and a half to two 
feet from the ground, and in the cooler sections to about two to three feet from the 
ground. Cut back all side branches, if any, to one or two inches from the stem; 
Frequent cultivating is necessary, as there is no better way of keeping the 
moisture near the surface. 
Planting can be done from November to March, according to the season, but 
orders should be placed early witli H'^, so as to obtain desired selections. 
In ordering, please state whether substitution will be permitted, as, when no in- 
structions accompany the order, we feel at liberty to substitute similar sorts. 
Articles mentioned in our price list will be furnished at prices named only when 
the number specified be taken, except that 5 will be furnished at 10 rates and 50 at 
100 rates. We will not, however, furnish lists of one of a kind at other than single 
rates. 
We will charge for packing sufficient to cover actual cost of same. 
