] q6 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Mar., 191 i. 



until it apparently lies truly along the line A B. Pass a crowbar 

 through the ring in the position shown in sketch and exert sufficient lever- 

 age to draw the wire taut. Then, with the measuring rod, set pegs at 

 intervals 24 feet along the wire. Remove the wire to the line E F and 

 tighten as before, but in this case make the -first measurement along the 

 wire from F only half the distance, or 12 feet. When all the pegs are 

 fixed along the wire, remove the end ones at E and F to prevent mis- 

 takes in planting. When setting the pegs, keep them on that side of the 

 wire away from the rows yet to be marked to prevent pulling them down 

 when shifting. Continue these ojierations until the paddock is complete, 

 making the fiirst measurement on each line alternately 12 feet and 24 feet. 

 Every peg will now be equidistant — 24 feet. 



2. METHOD OF PLANTING TREES IN LINE. 



When the time arrives for planting the trees, provide a planting board 

 which may be made from a piece of soft wood 3 in. x i in. to the fol- 

 lowing dimensions (No. 3). Lay the planting board on the ground so that the 

 central nick is in contact with a peg, keeping the board in position with 

 the foot. Remove the peg to one of the end nicks and place another 

 peg in the other nick. The hole may now be dug, and if the planting 

 h>oard is replaced the central nicJc will indicate the position of the 

 original peg and the place where 



the new tree is to be planted. By ,;- ^^ -7. 



following this system, the trees ^/ 2. /jN _L 



will all be truly in line and a good planting board. 



appearance given to the orchard. 



The depth of holes must largely be goA^erned by the depth of .soil, 

 and the nature of the trees to be planted. As a general rule, from 9 inches 

 to 12 inches is sufficient; but it is well to give the bottom of the hole a 

 good stirring, and keep the soil taken out, clear of the planting board. 

 Holes should never be made circular. When the roots of the new trees 

 reach the undisturbed soil they will have a tendency to follow the circular 

 wall. Make the holes square, from 18 inches to 24 inches, and if roots 

 should travel along the walls they will be pretty certain to penetrate 



when thev reach the corners. 

 ^iio.^^^i'^.^^^!^^^^-'^^^ It will" be found that two 

 people will make a better job 

 of planting than one. Be- 

 fore putting the tree into the 

 hole, arrange the bottom earth 

 in the form of a mound as in drawing Xo. 4. With the planting 



board in position, place the tree in the hole so that the stem rests directly 

 in the notch and on top of the mound around which the roots should be 

 symmetrically disposed, the strongest roots being kept towards the direc- 

 tion of prevailing winds. Make the soil as fine as possible before re- 

 filling, and press firmly around the roots, and .should the soil be dry take 

 an early opportunity of irrigating. Before setting the tree, take care 

 to disentangle the roots and to cut off all that are broken and damaged. 



4. HOLE FOR TREE. 



