246 Bulletin 69. 



system ot pruning. If heading-in is followed vigorously and sys- 

 tematically, trees may be set a third nearer than if allowed to 

 take their natural form. Heading-in should always be practiced 

 with dwarf pears, and many of our best growers pursue it with 

 peaches, plums and quinces. For mj^self, I have always advised 

 thin planting as the safer rule for the majority of cases. The 

 following table may be supposed to represent the outside average 

 limit for the planting of orchards, when the trees are allowed to 

 take their natural form : 



soil is strong and the grower makes thorough work of cultivat- 

 ing, pruning and fertilizing, these distances can be reduced some- 

 what with profit, except in the case of apples. These remarks 

 will also apply to the common question whether it is good policy 

 to plant shorter-lived trees, as peaches, between apples and pears. 

 It all depends upon the man. In general, I should discourage it ; 

 but if the orchardist giv^es the very best attention to fertilizing 

 and cultivating, plantations can be mixed with good results. 



Hozv to plant the trees. — Plow the land and fit it well. As all 

 orchards should be put into cultivated crops for the first two 

 years, at least, it will generally be found advisable to plow the 

 entire area before the orchard is set, rather than to plow strips 

 where the trees are to go, for the land can then be shaped better 

 with reference to surface drainage and general convenience. The 

 trees should be set neither in dead-furrows nor on back-furrows. 

 L,evel culture should generally be adopted from the start, unless it 

 is necessary to displace surface water ; and in that case it may be 



