The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-03-27
SELECTING FRUIT TREES.

In country so newly settled as is the
greater portion Of Iowa, the matter of
commencing the growth of orchards is Of
no small importance to the farmer, and in
selecting fruit trees for that purpose, too
great care cannot be observed. Few farm
ers know what really constitutes a good
nursery tree, yet it is the most valuable in
formation they can possess, and to great
extent the KEY to future success; for if you
expect to have good orchard, you must
plant healthy we'll formed trees of suitable
sorts for their particular soil and climate.
Most planters are over anxious to obtain
largo trees, which are very seldom profta-
bic, never, in fact, except when they are to
be moved but short distance from the nur-
sery. Apple trees, from three to five years
old, are the cheapest, easiest to plant, and
most certain to live and give satisfaction.
If you 20 to the nursery yourself, select
trees, with we'll balanced heads, not too high
up, especially if you intend to plant them on
the open prairie. In ordering or selecting
cherry, plum or dwarf pear trees, take those
that arc not over two years old-in fact,
one year old, if well grown, are better still.
Such trees you can easily get at the nurse
ries, at one-third to one half less than the
large sized trees that are generally ordered.
Nurserymsn like to sell large trees at large
prices, but an honest one will tell you that
this is correct advice, and will perhaps save
you if you are about ordering trees three or
four times the cost of this paper.
Any one who has had experience in or
chard planting. knows that the younger the
tree, as a general thing, the more readily it
adapts itself to a new situation, and recov-
ers from the injuries always Incident to even
10 careful removal from the nursery
Another reason why you should select your
trees is, you can form them to suit yourself,
30 that in after years you will never be COM
PEELED to resort to the dangerous remedy of
removing large limbs, or of saving in the
top, which is often absolutely necessary
with tall limbless whipstocks. ff~>
Peach trees in particular, should never be
more than one year old. Of the small fruits,
gooseberries and currants should never be
more than two or three years old. In Sc
lecting trees of all kinds avoid those Of un-
natural, rapid growth, or that have decayed
spots on the trunk. But the first and most
important thing to look to, and to insist
upon, is an abundance of root. More trees
fail from poor foots and from having been
exposed to frosts and drying winds than
from any other cause. If you order trees
from distant nursery, state distinctly that
your trees must be well packed, and just
mention by way. of encouragement, to your
nurserymen, that you never begrudge pack
ing charges, and expect your trees to be
carefully taken up with ut least q decent
supply Of 6brous roots. ~-- ...
In regard to varieties, if you have conf
dence in your nurserymen, leave the selec-
ton mainly to him, only state what proper
tion you wish Of summer, fall and winter
fruits, and that you don't care of more than
twenty.four varieties, and that you wish
those to be the best sorts suitable to your
locality. -
This advice Is of course intended for those
farmers who, from not having made horti-
cultar . speciality, are not posted up in
regard to the comparative merits of differ.
sht Sorts. ss#Eg Z EswesE 7@s.gr5"#