CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - Pole Shift Survival Information

180 THE NURSERY-MANUAL
A first-class tree is well grown ; that is, the various operations
to which it has been subjected by the nurseq’man have
been properly performed ; the workmanship
is good. It must be mature,
that is, not stripped of its leaves before
the foliage has ripened. It must be of
the proper age for plant,ing. It must have
a clean smooth bark, a stocky, strong
trunk, good roots, and be free of borers
and other insect injuries. The union -
at the bud or graft - must be completely
healed over if sold at two years
or above (peach trees are seldom healed
at the selling age). Stocky and rather
short trees, with well-branched heads,
are preferable to very tall ones. Very
1“ll;. 203. Self-rwistwing slender trees, if above one or two years
tree-wlipcr.
old, should be avoided.
Surserymen express the size of a tree by its diameter about
two inches above the bud or crown. The measuring is made
with a c3liper or gage (Figs. 203, 204, 2(K). The diameter of
a first-(*lass tree varies with the method of growiilg td trimming
it. III the Sew h’wli 111irst~rit’s, ;I first-class two-yeur-
I-, --
I+(;. Wk. Heikes tree gage.
old apple tree (budded) should caliper eleven-sixteenths inch
and upward. Plums run about the same. Pears Fliil