ORCHARDS. 69 



perceives a straight line, and uniform grooves, but the plan 

 itself is the most consistent ; because each tree is planted, in a 

 certain space, at the greatest possible distance from the other, 

 and thus, in this manner, is less cumbersome to its neighbor, 

 than it would be in a rectangular square. Hence 'the proper 

 and most profitable disposition will be that of allowing three 

 rods interval between standards, in the horizontal rows from 

 east to west, and two and a half rods in the perpendicular 

 lines from south to north. This space, however, would, after 

 sometime, be too narrow ; one tree would impede the growth 

 of another, and by obstructing the air as well as the rays of 

 the sun, prevent the ripening of the fruit ; if the trees were 



indiscriminately in the spots marked on the plan To 



obviate such inconvenience, it should be understood to be a 

 fundamental rule, that each fruit tree must he provided ivitli a 

 neiglibor, loliicli is of a different growth. It will, therefore, 

 be requisite to make such a choice of the various kinds and 

 species of trees, that one of a vigorous growth with a spread- 

 ing crown, or top, should stand next to another that expands 

 with less luxuriance, and has fewer or lower branches. This 

 arrangement may be more easily accomplished, as every 

 zealous friend of horticulture will naturally wish to possess 

 in his collection, at least one, or a few trees of every valuable 

 kind of fruit. And in order to facilitate such choice, we shall, 

 in the course of this work, furnish ample catalogues from 

 which proper selections may be made. 



But, though the soil and space for standards, according to 

 our plan, be rather sparingly allotted, yet there would remain 

 a considerable piece of ground between them unemployed, 

 for some years, while they are young and growing ; hence it 

 will be advisable to plant and train between every two stand- 

 ards, in the horizontal rows, a small or dwarf-tree with a lim- 

 ited top or crown (peach trees would answer very well) bear- 

 ing early and abundant fruit, until the stems have attained so 

 large a size, and such spreading branches, as to overshadow 

 and stifle their useful but diminutive neighbors. Thus the 

 latter must, according to circumstances, yield the room they 

 occupy to the former ; and after having amply repaid the 



