SETTING OUT AN ORCHARD. 267 



that is, if you are going to use the thirty-foot distance. If you use another 

 distance all the buttons will have to be changed. For the thirty-foot dis- 

 tances set the buttons on the cross wire twenty-five feet apart. In plant- 

 ing, the crew will set the first tree at the fifty-foot marks on the cross line, 

 then when the shift to the next button on the side lines is made, the crew 

 will plant at the twenty-five foot buttons. 



If you do not wish to purchase the woven wire cable, a common grape 

 wire will answer very well. 



When ready to prepare the wires, stretch them as tight as possible, 

 on a level piece of ground, and use an accurate measure for locating the 

 buttons. The object is to have all wires uniform. 



FILLERS. 



Will it pay to put in fillers? This question can be answered, yes, and 

 no. It depends on the kind of filler. We put in fillers to increase the re- 

 turns for the first few years. Sometimes the returns are reduced by an 

 injudicious use of fillers. In sections where the peach will thrive this fruit 

 is used. This is a good tree for some localities, but even in some peach 

 sections it is not advisable to use it. I have seen this filler removed after 

 the fifth year because it did not pay. The reason was choice of wrong 

 varieties. These persons planted early varieties and when they came 

 into bearing, the crop ripened just two weeks later than the same variety 

 on a lower level not three miles distant. If you are going to use the 

 peach, it will be well to go into the matter pretty thoroughly. In almost 

 any section it is best to stick to the shippers. When you have made your 

 choice of variety, don't be a hog and plant two fillers to each permanent 

 tree. I have seen growers fall down just as hard on this point as on the 

 wrong variety. 



The apple or pear makes a good filler. We are using these two kinds 

 of fruit to the exclusion of all others. Select varieties that come into 

 fruiting at an early age. The Jonathan, Rome Beauty and Winesap are 

 excellent for this purpose. We set our trees 30 x 30 feet, with the filler in 

 the center. This will allow us to make use of the filler for twelve to fif- 

 teen years before it will have to be removed. For pears, we use Bartlett, 

 Winter Nellis and d'Anjou. 



If one wishes quick returns the small fruits are the best fillers, and 

 especially is this true of the strawberry. If you are going to use this 

 fruit, don't, by all means, plant it closer than five feet of the young tree. 

 As the trees increase in size, widen the cultivated space on each side of 

 the tree. 



As I have said before, the filler is used for the purpose of increasing 

 the returns from the orchard for the first few years, and just as soon as 

 the permanent trees begin to need the space ttie filler must come out. 

 Your business is to produce a high-grade orchard, and nothing must be 

 allowed to check its growth. 



We use the filler with either the square, hexagonal or quincunx sys- 

 tems. When the latter system is used, plant the varieties you select 

 20 X 20, and when the trees begin to crowd, chop out. 



