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The Canadian Horticulturist. 



LAYING OUT AN ORCHARD. 



HREE objects should be considered in laying out the orchard : 

 symmetry of appearance ; economy of space ; and facility for 

 future care. In California, where millions of trees are planted 

 \S^!^ annually, various methods are used. Many are now planting 

 in what is known as the triangular or alternate system. This 

 method gives more trees to the acre than the square system, and in case of 

 apple trees, every other row can be planted to peaches. As the life of the peach 

 tree is short, several crops of fruit may be gathered before any serious damage 

 is done the apple trees, and before crowding, 

 the peach trees can be removed. In laying 

 out an orchard to be planted in this manner, 

 take three pieces of timber one by two 

 inches, and of the length that the trees are to 

 be apart. Miter and fasten the corners 

 together with pieces one inch thick and six 

 by eight inches in size. These should be 

 fastened firmly with two-inch screws. To 

 make the triangle strong, the pieces should 

 be turned on edge. After the triangle is 

 fastened together, measure off the exact 

 length it is desired to have the trees apart, 

 and bore an inch hole through each corner of the boards, being careful that the 

 holes are exactly the same distance apart Places the three braces across the 

 corners, and the triangle is completed. Stretch a line oi* a wire on one side of 



the track to be planted, the proper dis- 

 tance from the fence, place two corners of 

 the triangle exactly on the line and set a 

 Fici. 410.-Plantin(; Board. ^take through each hole on the line, also 



one in the third corner. Move the triangle along the line, placing one corner 

 over the stake and the other corner on the line and drive the stakes as before. 

 After the first and second rows are staked off, only one row is set at a time, 

 while the two corners of the triangle are kept over the last row of stakes. There 

 should be a person at each corner of the triangle. 



After the stakes are all set, bore an inch hole in each end of a board, four 

 inches wide and six or eight feet long. Cut a notch in the centre, place it against 

 the stake, drive a stake through each hole in the end of the board, and remove 

 the centre one. The hole is then dug, and when ready to set the tree, lay the 

 l)onr(l over tin' slakes and place the tree in the notch. The same plan can be 

 used in laying off an orchard by using a square instead of a triangle^ AH the 



Fi(i. 409- 



-Triangle for Orchard 

 Planting. 



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