FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 143 



drouths occur. On the other hand, there is more or less danger from 

 winter injury during a severe winter or from the drying out of the trees 

 if the winter is long and dry. Fall planting is much more successful 

 with the hardy apples and pears than it is with the tender plums, 

 cherries and peaches. In Michigan, it is seldom safe to plant peaches, 

 sweet cherries, or apricots in the fall. 



The convenience of the season will determine in a majority of cases 

 whether or not the planting shall be done in the fall or spring. Very 

 often the rush of spring work induces the grower to hurry his planting, 

 or to do it carelessly, and as a result a poor stand is secured, with 

 crooked rows. Others have large crops to harvest in the fall, and would 

 find it more convenient to do the planting in the spring. If there is any 

 doubt as to the best time to plant, let it be done in the spring, and as 

 early as the ground can be gotten into proper condition. 



DISTANCE FOR PLANTING. 



Most of the old Michigan orchards, especially of apples, were i^lanted 

 too close. Trees produce not only large tops, but develop extensive root 

 systems and are wide feeders. They should be planted far enough apart 

 so that they will not interfere with each other, or if planted more closely 

 than the proper distance, the plantings should be done in such a way 

 as will later permit a judicious thinning of the trees. Another disad- 

 vantage in planting trees too close together is the serious difficulty 

 which will be encountered in the operations of spraying and cultivating. 

 In orchards where trees are close together not only is the spraying more 

 difficult, but diseases and insects thrive more easil3\ For the same 

 reasons the outside rows should not be located too near the fence. 



The distance apart that fruit trees should be planted depends not only 

 upon the kind of fruit to be raised, but in many cases upon the variety. 

 Some varieties differ greatly in vigor and habits of growth from others, 

 and requires greater distances; for example, the Northern Sjjy apple as 

 compared with the Wagener, the Crawford peach as compared with the 

 Gold Drop, the Grand Duke plum as com])ared with the Wixom. Trees 

 planted upon strong soils require greater distances than on lighter soils, 

 because they will usually live longer and make a much more vigorous 

 growth of top and root. However, if the grower has clear and definite 

 plans to do repressive pruning, he may reduce the standard distances 

 somewhat. Close planting should not be attempted unless a man knows 

 how and is sure to continue his practice of heading-in the trees every 

 year. 



Safe distances for planting under ordinary and normal conditions in 

 Michigan are: 



Apples, 33-40 feet, or even 45-50. 



Standard pears, 20-25 feet. 



Dwarf pears, 10-12 feet. 



Peaches, plums and ai)ricots, 20-24 feet. 



Sweet cherries, 25-40 feet. 



Sour cherries, 18-24 feet. 



Quinces, 10-12 feet. 



