The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-09
HORTICULTURE
PURCHASING FRUIT TREES.

This is a subject which concerns
every one who contemplates setting
trees or plants this spring. One has
only to let it be pOised abroad that he
is intending to buy and he is at once
harrassed by any number of agents
who represent firms of both knoWnand
unknown reputation.
If all agents were honest, and repre-
sented honest firms, it might do to pat,
ronize them occasionally, though one
Is only helping to pay the agents salary
or commission when he does. This is
not saying that all agents and firms
are dishonest, for there are many hon
est and reliable ones, says the Farmers
Voice.
Many times we think we have found
an honest firm and placed an order
with their agent, yet, after several
years. tending and care Of the trees,
we find, On their fruiting, that some
are inferior stock, or not true to name,
or both.
l have in mind several of my friends
who ventured into purchases which re-
suited similarly, one in particular who
purchased, five years ago, 500 peach
trees through an agent of a nursery
supposed to be reliable, which the past
season fruited nearly all white varie-
ties, though none but yellow ones were
ordered.
Although reliable firms guarantee
their stock true to name and, in case
a mistake is made, would make repara-
tions, this does not begin to repay the
planter for the loss of his time and use
of the ground to grow more remunera-
tive crops, to say nothing of the inter
est on the money invested. Then the
stock is sometimes stunted, or have
poor roots, which make them more un-
certain to live.
Another thing to be thought of is
the protection from the sun and wind
which they usually receive from the
agent when he delivers them, If he
should happen to 40. 40. Most OF the
agents care little further than to get
their pay, and consequently are care
less in handling the stock. They are
apt to leave them in some place where
the rays of the sun may strike them,
and if the wind is blowing, that will be
as injurious as the former.
Two years ego an agent received
quite an order from this vicinity, and
when the trees came they were all
packed together in one box in good
shape; but he separated each order,
and placed them where they were expos
ed to dry, hot wind, and there left them
for each one who had ordered stock.
Some Of the trees came into my neigh
borhOod, and took particular notice
of the results. Out of 200 trees which
noticed, less than 100 were alive in
the fall. I think many could have
been saved by the purchaser had he
protected them on his way home with
a damp blanket or some damp straw,
and taken reasonable care in setting
them out.
There are q number of reliable firms
who sell directly to the grower, at less
rates than through an agent, thereby
saving the agents salary. Where there
is an honest, reliable nursery near, it
is good plan to go there and select
what stock is wanted, usirg the nur-
seryman's judgment as to varieties, il
one is new in the business. have fol
lowed this plan for several years, and
have never yet had reason to regret it.
These who are not 30 situated should
send for the catalogues of some of the
nursery firms advertised in our lead
ing farm journals, select what they
want and order; or, if they are uncer-
tain what varieties would do best in
their vicinity, leave it to the judgment
Of the nurserymen, stating the soil,
location and exposure, and he will sel-
dom be disappointed in the results.