PLANTING. 



19 



The ingredients must be of the best quahty and thoroughly mixed 

 together. The compound should be passed through a quarter inch 

 screen. The cost per ton at present prices, including labour, will be 

 about ;^ 3 5s. ; and something less than half a ton per acre, every third 

 or fourth year, would suffice, since its effects will be found very durable. 



Planting. — The young trees selected to furnish the Orchard 

 should be stout and well grown, and not less than 8 or 10 years old. 

 They should be planted at equal distance from each other at spaces 

 varying from 15 to 40 feet apart, according to the habit of growth 

 of the variety, or to the further use it is proposed to make of the 

 ground. Mr. T. A. Knight was in favour of close planting whether 

 in arable, or pasture land. Those planters who wish to have the 

 largest return at the earliest period, should plant the trees at 15 feet 

 apart in the rows, cutting away every other tree as soon as they 

 approach each other, taking care to keep the rows 30 feet apart from 

 each other. Dr. Beale advises that the crab stocks " be settled 30 

 feet apart, and after three years let the artist be sent for to graft 

 them with the best fruit." Mortimer would have "all trees and 

 rows at 40 feet apart and pruned to grow like a fan." The trees 

 certainly should stand so clearly apart from each other as to allow 

 of their full growth, since a large tree will supply not only more, but 

 better fruit than a small one. They should be planted carefully in 

 lines for the convenience of cultivation, and their roots should be 

 kept as near the surface as may be ; that is, they should not be 

 planted too deeply in the ground. The soil beneath should be 

 double dug, and if some roughly broken bones could be put in at 

 the same time, say a peck to a tree, they would form an endurmg 

 support to the young trees. 



Trees of a similar variety, or of a similar habit of growth, and 

 which ripen their fruit at the same period should be planted together; 

 for thus there will be a greater certainty of uniform space for light 

 and air ; the general appearance of the Orchard will be improved ; 

 and much time and labour will be saved in gathering the fruit in 

 Autumn. It is better also to have a mixture of early and late 

 blooming varieties in the same orchard, so that if a part of the crop 



