APPLE GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 43 



decidedly bad. The post bar and shovel may do the work as well as 

 dynamite and are safer if the soil is wet. 



LAYING OUT LAND. 



The establishment of points for the setting of trees may be con- 

 veniently done with a surveyor's level or transit. If such instru- 

 ments are not available accurate results may be attained by sighting to 

 stakes with the eye. Difficulty sometimes arises because of irregularly 

 shaped tracts, but in such cases it is only necessary to establish straight 

 lines as guides in laying out the main tract and filling in angular pieces 

 afterwards. By establishing such lines a rectangular tract may be laid 

 off, the boundaries of opposite sides being marked by stakes of a con- 

 venient size and color so that they may be easily seen, and defining 

 accurately the distance between the trees or rows. A line of stakes set 

 the same distance apart should be run parallel to one of these boundary 

 lines somewhere near the middle of the field. These three being deter- 

 mined, points in between to locate position of trees can be accurately 

 placed also, and by sighting in two directions at right angles to each 

 other, there should be little chance of serious errors in alignment. If, 

 instead of the square method of planting, the hexagonal is to be used, it 

 would be necessary to establish twice as many points on the boundary 

 and in the line parallel to same to determine the position of the trees in 

 alternate rows. 



