The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-02-15

should always be avoided, the other ex-
treme In size is about equally undesir-
able for ordinary purposes. AS rule,
well-fOrmed, well-rooted, medium-sized
trees, which have the characteristics
of the variety, are best.
Such trees can be transplanted more
successfully; they usually start into
growth more readily and develop more
symmetrically than trees of either of
the extremes.
The roots should be abundant and
well distributed from the base of the
tree. If there are but few, and these
are all on one side, the tree will not
be well braced when 1t is planted.
Carefully Inspect Trees.
There is less danger now than few
years ago of getting trees affected with
disease and insect pests on account
of improvements in the nursery inspec-
tiOn service of the various states and
the higher standard generally adopted
by the nurSerymen. In the past many
diseased trees have been sent out and
there is still danger of unnecessarily
planting diseases along with the fruit
trees. All trees should be looked over
carefully when unpacked. In case dis
eases or insect pests are found, the
trees should not be accepted and the
nurseryman at once notified that the
trees are held subject to his order.
When in doubt, consult an expert,
preferably on the ground, but samples
may be mailed to the nearest expert
ment station or to the department of
agriculture.
Most fruit trees, including apples,
pears, plums and cherries, are plant
ed when they are two years old; that
is, after they have made two seasons
growth in the nursery. Peach trees,
however, should be but one year old
when transplanted from the nursery.
There is growing tendency among
commercial OrchNrdists to plant apple
and some other fruits when only one
year old.
Deal With Nurseryman.
Probably the trees for the majority
of farm orchards are bought from fruit
tree agents. Such agents often repre-
sent long established and thoroughly re-
liable nurseries, and do business year
after year in the same territory. But
many agents represent jObbers who do
not grow the stock they handle, but
purchase it wherever they can buy it
to the best advantage. In many cases,
they have no very permanent head
quarters and frequently do not expect
to do business in the same sections for
more than season or two.
1t is usually more satisfactory in the
end, if the purchaser, even of very
small quantities Of stock, makes up his
mind as to what he wants and then
places his order direct with some nurs-
eryman who has well-established
business and who is so located geo.
graphically that he can conveniently
ship the order to the point where it is
to be delivered.
Other things being equal, the nearer
the nursery is to the place where the
stock is to be planted, the better. But
sometimes, because of better prices or
for other reasons, nearness of points
Of production and planting can well
be dlsregarded. Trees Of the same
variety and on suitable stocks, which
are equally well grown, may be expect
ed to be of equal value for. planting in
any place, whether they are grown
nearby or in distant state, SO far as
hardness, the adaptability of the trees
to conditions, etc. are concerned.