The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1922-01-13
WATSON WRITES OF
IMPORTANCE OF PROPER
TREE BREEDING.
TO the Editor:

/ To the Editor:
The propagation of nursery stock
is Of vital Importance to, and in real
/ ity the very foundation of the fru1.
industry, yet how careless NAM.
growers are in selecting the stock
thev buy! One cannot judge the true
worth of nursery stock by its appear
ance as there are so many little de
tails involved in its production which
influence the quantity and quality Of
fruit the trees will produce.
There is a tremendous signifcanc
in blood, both in human beings and in
ANIMALS. 1t is truly remarkable what
has been accomplished in breeding uD
livestock to a state of excellence. 50
it Is possible to breed up nursery
stock to an equally advanced state
1t is an indisputable fact that nurs-
erymen in general are not modern or
up-to-date in methods relating to the
propc cation Of nursery stock.
Tie growers are more to blame for
existing conditions than the nursery
men as they do not demand superior
stock and many of them would moi
pay the difference in price between
high grade and inferior stock.
j. the production of high grade
nursery stock there are three essen
tials to be considered. First come
the location and climate in which it Is
raised. | would much prefer home
grown stock but if this is not obtain
able, | would recommend getting
stock from more rigorous climate
than our own.
The second matter Of Importance Is
the origin. In propagating nurser,
stock one must remember that soma
varieties of trees are susceptible to al
most every disease existing while
Others again are vigorous, hardy and
immune from such ailments. AS in
livestock, so in fruit some crosses
will not blend, the offspring being un-
slightly and tending to degeneracy
rather than to invigoration. The root
is tie primary factor of the tree for
the vigor, longevity, productiveness
and quality of fruit depend largely
upon it. Many nurserymen have in
the past resorted to vinegar plants
for seed to develop the root Some
have not yet got out Of the rut! A
parallel case is that of the farmer
who, selling his marketable potatoes,
plants the culls and expects to obtain
good results! This happy go-lucky
method Of propagating nursery stock.
together with lack of knowledge
and care Of orchards in the growing
stage is responsible for so many fail
ures among growers. The saying
that 'like begets like" is not only an
adage OF proveib; it is a stern re-
allty.
The third essential is that the land
should be in a high state Of cultiva-
tion with deep rich soil and good
draL age. The size of tree desired
and the early maturity of the wood
can he regulated by cultivation of the
lane and proper irrigation. Many nur-
serymen are trying to raise stock on
impoverished land entirely unfit for
what was expected of il, and in order
to get trees of the required size,
they use too much water and also use
the water too late in the season to
allow the trees TO ripen thoroughly
before fall frosts attack them. There
are other reasons that would lead one
to condemn nursery stock besides the
fact of its being diseased, stunted in
bred mongrel or because of poor
workmanship in grating and bud
ding.
say that growers should not seek
bargain counter sales in nursery
stock. Land is too valuable Cost +
'abor not only warrants but demands
the best stock that science and skill
eAiI PA OuNONs
If were going to set out an o.
chard. say of Delicious, would select
the finest speciments of a vigorous
| productive tree, say Arkansas Black.
producing highly colored apples
would select the finest specime ss
when the apples were fully matur, d.
/ | would care for the seeds of the c
and al the proper season wol,I
plant them. When the seedlings wara
one yeal old, would select scions II
a tree of equal quality of Delici is
and graft into the root stocks of tn
seedlings. | firmly believe that II
method would do away with so many
unsightly variations and failures in
orchard culture and that the results
therefrom would justify the extra
cost and labor involved.
| could go deeper into the subject
and furnish details and illustrations.
thus perhaps making my contention
clearer but ] feel that | have already
taken up too much space. In conclu-