The Bulletin 15 



LAYING OUT THE ORCHARD 



A great deal of care should be exercised in laying off tlie orchard 

 to have the rows straight in all directions. This point is often neg- 

 lected, since many orchards are laid off with a plow, and the rows are 

 not perfectly straight. The satisfaction of having straight rows is 

 worth many times the small additional cost of making them so. A 

 convenient method of laying off the orchard to secure straight rows may 

 be described as follows: 



Fig. 8. Part of the same orchard as Pig. 7, but the land had been in a cultivated crop lor 

 a year before planting to peaches. Note the larger size of trees and the better condition 

 of soil. 



Run off the first row or base line along one side of the site, setting a 

 stake where each tree is to stand in the row. Line these stakes up with 

 a transit if one is available; if not, straighten them up with the eye. 

 At ono end of the site a second base line is run in the same manner, 

 at right angles to the first line. The position of the remainder of tlie 

 stakes is determined by two measuring boards, Avhose length is the 

 distance apart that the trees are to be planted. Starting at the point 

 where the two base lines meet and using the measuring boards as shown 

 in diagrammatic illustration (Fig. 9), the rows may be staked out very 

 accurately. The measuring boards are notched at each end and a 

 stake is driven through the notch where the boards intersect. The 

 measuring boards can be more easily handled if they are fastened 

 together at the end with a bolt. 



The site may be staked off by running two base lines, one across each 

 end of the site, and then locating the stakes in the rows at the proper 



