The National Nurseryman. 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK. 
Copyrighted 1903 by The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated. 
Vol. XIII. ROCHESTER, N. Y., JUNE, 1905. No. 6. 
THE HEADING OF NURSERY STOCK 
Interesting and Valuable Review of an Important Subject— East and West 
Represented. 
WESTERN NEW YORK. 
EAST AND WEST CONTRASTED. 
I think there is a tendency on the part of nurserymen to 
head fruit trees lower. We are averaging about three inches 
shorter stems than formerly. 
The arguments in favor of shorter bodies 
are many, but the necessity of it is largely 
a question of locality. In the West the 
bare bodies are apt to sun scald, and they 
for many years have been asking us for 
lower headed trees on that account. 
Since spraying came into vogue, there is, 
of course, a decided advantage in keeping 
the heads low. This is also true when it 
comes to picking fruit. 
In our Eastern climate the bodies do not 
seem to suffer from exposure as they do in 
the West, but when it comes to spraying 
and picking the demand for lower-headed 
trees is no longer sectional. 
For Eastern orchardists I do not believe 
that it makes much difference either way. 
If a grower prefers to head high so that 
he may drive under the limbs, I do not think he will at 
all injure his fruit yield by so doing. So far as my observation 
extends, it is perfectly safe for each orchardist to settle that 
question for himself, and as best suits his own convenience. 
Dansville. Geo. A. Sweet. 
HEAD LOWER FOR ECONOMIC REASONS. 
So far as we know nurserymen are heading their trees just 
about the same as they have always been in the habit oi 
doing, but we have no doubt that there will be a disposition on 
the part of planters to head back pretty well and to keep the 
trees from getting away up out of reach as some orchards 
are now. 
We must all come to spraying, and it is very difficult to 
reach the tops of some of our old trees. We have an orchard 
that was sprayed twice carefully. There are a few trees just 
across the lane that never have been sprayed. The apples 
upon those trees are comparatively worthless, because of 
fungus; those on our trees are as fine as we evei saw. 
Rochester. Chase Bros. Co. 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
AVENUE AND SHADE TREES—INTERESTING EXPERIENCE. 
There is an increased demand for low-headed deciduous 
trees. The desire to have shade trees to start ahead seven 01 
eight feet from the ground is largely on the increase, in fact 
the demand for low headed trees is now so great from our 
retail buyers that we are trimming all our young blocks so 
that they will form low heads. Some of our taller trees have 
had to be cut back to conform with the demands. This mode 
of trimming necessitates a more expensive cultivation than 
the old way, as it requires more room for trees to develop a 
good head in nursery rows. 
The advantage of these low-headed trees is a fully de¬ 
veloped specimen tree when planted out on avenues or private 
grounds. 
The benefit to the nurserymen is a considerably advanced 
price for a perfect specimen tree, whose branches are already 
well developed. A 7-8 foot trunk before any branches are 
formed is the possible height, lower than this will not answer 
for street or avenue planting and are not desirable for lawns. 
I believe the advantages from this mode of trimming are 
quite desirable, as the nurseryman now does what was form¬ 
erly done by the planter and required two or three years to 
obtain the results which are now secured in trees grown in 
this manner. The artistic effect of low-headed trees on the 
lawn, I believe, will be advantageous. 
Morrisville, Pa. The Wm. H. Moon Co. 
OHIO. 
Editor National Nurseryman. 
We do not think that planters as a rule are making any 
great change in regard to planting low headed trees, or that 
nurserymen have made any effort to supply them, or have 
changed their methods of heading trees any lower than they did 
two to five years ago. Our impression is that the few growers 
who are doing the talking and planting along this line, are 
experienced men, who possess the necessary knowledge re¬ 
quired to make good orchards, and keep the trees pruned as 
they should be. We think the majority of men who grow 
trees in this way are buying one year stock and heading 
them themselves. We doubt if the average planter possesses 
the necessary knowledge to keep the trees in good condition 
and grow them with low heads. 
Painesville. The Storrs & Harrison Co. 
MICHIGAN. 
SOME DEMAND FOR LOW HEADS. 
There is some demand for low-headed trees. We find 
however, as a rule that our orders do not specify this kind of 
trees. It is certain however, that there is a tendency to train 
trees down lower than in the past. The particulai advantagf s 
