SELECTION OF TREES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 135, 10 June 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

SELECTION OF TREES.

Every garden should have a few fruit trees, for apart from everything else, homegrown fruit is unequalled by any other, no matter how cheap. The excuse usually given, for not growing fruit is the number of pests, etc., and the trouble of- spraying. With the present day knowledge and materials this is not half as much trouble as mowing the front lawn. Before deciding to purchase a plant it is wise to seriously consider just how many trees, and what sorts; the garden can accommodate. A word here in regard to the number required, remember that a fruit tree needs air, light, and full sun, a certain amount of shelter from heavy winds is advisable, but shade in any form, whether from shelter trees, or other fruit trees must be avoided. In regard to position, we are more or less the creatures of circumstances and have no choice in the matter as regards hills >or valleys, heavy oi light soiL We can, however, with the selection of trees often, more or less,

eliminate those varieties which are known not to succeed under such positions as we have at our disposal. There are few positions where the majority of our hardy fruits will not succeed. There are, however, some varieties that are "particular" as to 'their needs, and if the position does not suit them it is better .to cut them out and plant another Bort that will eiicceed rather than risk disappointment. In short,, if care ,is taken in selecting the variety of varieties and a little time given to planting and after management, there are very few gardens where some portion of the fruit used in the home could not he grown quite as easy as cabbages, and with less trouble than is expended on the patch of weeds conimonly known as the front lawn.