24 Management of Orchards. 



tance must needs be as far as two trees are well able to over- 

 spread and fill, so thej touch not by one yard at least." 



When the stocks are all planted, they should at once be pro- 

 tected from cattle and sheep, either by a triangular guard formed 

 with three stakes and cross-bars, for which hurdle-materials are 

 stout enough, or else with furze or bushes, bound round the tree 

 by a withe or two, if more convenient to the farmer. The 

 objection to the latter guard is, that in a year or so it is rubbed 

 off by cattle, and its repair is overlooked until the young tree is 

 peeled. Another plan is to use galvanized wire lattice-work, 

 which can be had at Ad. per tree. Good stocks vary in price 

 from Is. to 2^. Q>d. each : if you buy, get good stocks, and never 

 mind the price ; awd be sure they are between 6 and 7 feet 

 high. 



As to the cost of planting, an orchard set out at 12 yards be- 

 tween each tree will take nearly thirty-four trees per acre ; and 

 as good stocks, 6 to 7 feet between root and branches, alld 

 2 inches in diameter, will cost, say 2s. 6t?. each, the expense 

 will be as under : — 



£. s. d. 



34 trees, at 2s, 6fZ 4 5 



Planting, at 6(i. eacli 17 



Protecting with timber at j 



Is., or with bushes at od. 8s. Qd. > 1 14 

 Galvanized hattice wire, at 4rZ. lis. Aid.) 



Grafting, at 1 5 (Z 3 8 or with food, IcZ. 



Pruning for first 8 years 17 



£7 16 8 



If the trees be planted at 10 yards' distance, the price would be 

 very much increased, as 48 trees would then be required, which, 

 at the same rate, would cost 11/. \s. 2d. A tenant-farmer, unless 

 he has a lease, or a thorough confidence in his landlord, may well 

 hesitate about making such an outlay as this, for which his 

 prospect of return or compensation is precarious. Yet I have 

 never met with any mention of tenant-right with respect to the 

 planting an orchard, except that recorded by Professor Tanner, 

 in his Report on the Agriculture of Shropshire, vol. xli, ' Royal 

 Agricultural Society's Journal.' He there writes — " Where 

 orchards are planted by the tenant, if he leaves the farm within 

 eight years, the cost of the trees and interest are paid to him in 

 full ; but the compensation subsequently decreases one-eighth 

 every year." I should strongly recommend that a clause to this 

 effect should be adopted in the counties of Hereford or Wor- 

 cester ; for it would much benefit estates, and tend to their being 

 well stocked with fruit-trees. When in an old orchard the trees 

 are worn out, I should not recommend its being replanted, at least 



