11 Sept., 1916.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 529 



and 10, and explained. Almost any number of acres in one orchard 

 block may be worked in similarly. 



It frequently happens that prospective fruit-growers, without pre- 

 vious knowledge of the work, and with limited capital, after selecting 

 their land, usually clear and plant a few acres each year until the 

 orchard area is completed. 



When commencing to plant an orchard in this manner particularly, 

 the north-east corner, preferably, should be made the base of opera- 

 tions, situation and general conditions permitting. 



WTien an orchard has been started, on the lines laid down in these 

 illustrations, it becomes a simple matter to continue the desired yearly 

 extensions to the planted area. 



This may be accomplished by using the planting wire to maintain 

 straight right-angle lines in the direction to which the arrows point 

 in Plate 13, using the diagonal line as a check on the right angles. 



Positions of Trees found by Sighting. 



Occasionally planters adopt the old method of " sighting " their 

 trees into position. This is done by planting a tree in the right-angle 

 corner in which operations are commenced. A peg is put in at the 

 opposite end of the row, then a measuring rod is used to determine the 

 distance between the first and second tree, a sight is taken from the 

 first tree to the peg, and the second tree is planted in line, and so on 

 until the row is planted. The remaining rows are worked in in like 

 manner. But the planting cannot be so accurately done under the 

 sighting process as it may be by using the planting wire. 



It frequently happens that the rows which run at right angles to 

 those sighted do not run in straight lines. Therefore, this method 

 is more tedious, costly, and less accurate than the one advocated. 



When all the essential details in connexion with laying out an 

 orchard on sound commercial lines receive attention, at the proper 

 time, the orchard becomes an object for prospective planters to emulate, 

 a credit to the district in which it is situated, and a great attraction for 

 intending purchasers, if the owner wishes to sell. 



Diagonal Planting. 



Although the square system of planting is recommended and mostly 

 practised by our fruit-growers on account of its general suitability to 

 the requirements essential to the thorough working of the orchard m 

 relation to cnltivatioii, drainage, irrigation, &c., certain local conditions 

 occasioiinlly occur in undulating districts, when the diagonal planting 

 method bas its advantages in respect to the requirements mentioned. 



When orchards are planted on those hilly lands, irrigation from 

 dams is the method invariably practised. When laying out the orchard, 

 therefore, tbe lay of tbe land sbonld be regarded as an important factor 

 when deteriiiiiiiug tlie method of planting to be adopted. 



Tbe diagonal system consists mainly of running the rows of trees 

 from corner to corner of the orchard or in diagonal lines from the 

 headlands. 



Plate 14 shows the diagonal system of planting and its suitability 

 for cultivation and irrigation, &c., under certain circumstances. 



