A quick web search on how to plant fruit trees, or any plant, will cause you to come upon some good advice that usually reads something like this: “Never plant a ten-dollar tree in a one-dollar hole.” In fact, the statement (or some form of it) occurs so frequently that this Heirloom Orchardist wanted to know the origin of the advice. When did this snippet of wisdom come about? Well, after some exhaustive research, I must report that I still haven’t a clue.
But the advice does go back, at least as far as the year 1900. Here are some examples of what I was able to dig up (so to speak):
1922: The Amateur's Book Of The Dahlia,
"Our lovable friend, Dean Hole, once made a remark which another lovable friend in Oregon since brought up to date, saying: 'It is better to plant a ten cent root in a hole which cost a dollar to make, than to plant a root costing a dollar in a hole which cost ten cents to make.'” (p. 35)
1916: How to Grow Roses,
“A very successful grower of roses in New York State once remarked to a meeting of his rose society: 'I would rather plant a 15-cent rose in a 50-cent hole than plant a 50-cent rose in a 15-cent hole. He was wise.'” (p. 14)
1913: Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany, Vol. III, No. 1:
“One of our local horticulturists and botanists is fond of saying that a ten cent tree planted in a fifty cent hole will soon outgrow and always surpass in healthful vigor a fifty cent tree planted in a ten cent hole. He is quite right.” (p. 452)
1900: The Romance Of Gilbert Holmes,
“…but men will plant a ten-dollar tree in a five-cent hole, and then blame the seller if it dies. There is nothing in such economy…” (p. 366)
Because the last example comes from a novel, not from a horticultural “how to” manual, I’d like to believe that I’ve found the original source of this sage advice. But regrettably, I would not be quite right. I would not be wise. This has got to be an old saying that goes back at least as far as the start of the nursery industry, when a specified value was first assigned to a plant. So I’ll let this topic go, and just give Marshall Monroe Kirkman the credit. I’ve spent much too much valuable time on this research project already. It’s worthless to spend 5 hours on a silly post (or twelve months for that matter), when I could spend 5 minutes on a worthwhile one. There’s nothing in such economy.
The Backyard Orchardist: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruit Trees in the Home Garden
