122 Commercial Gardening 



Cherry growing; consequently the best trees are always the cheapest in 

 the end. Faulty and second-class trees should not be planted. 



In the selection of Cherry trees attention must be paid equally to both 

 root and shoot. The roots should be evenly distributed on all sides, not 

 long and straggling, but numerous, fibrous, and spreading in all directions. 

 The tree should have a straight stem, not less than 5 ft. nor greater than 

 6 ft. high. The branches should be numerous, evenly balanced, and on 

 no account lopsided. 



It is not advisable to buy trees that have been budded at the crown, 

 since these are often badly balanced and have a " gouty " lump where 

 the bud was placed. If worked at the top, the stock should be grafted, 

 not budded, since grafted trees more often form well-balanced heads. 



In laying out an orchard, consideration should be given to the time 

 of ripening of the fruit. It is convenient to have all the early sorts 

 on one side, the medium in the centre, and the late sorts on the other 

 side of the orchard. By this means not only can the birds be more 

 easily kept off, but the cherries can also be more economically gathered, 

 with less moving of ladders, &c. 



When full grown, a Cherry tree covers a large area of ground con- 

 siderably more than other orchard trees; the trees should therefore be 

 planted far enough apart to allow of maximum development. The best 

 distance for this purpose is 2 rods (33 ft.) .apart in each direction. This 

 allows 4 perches of ground for each tree, and thus forty trees are required 

 for each acre. It is preferable to plant the orchard upon what is usually 

 called the "diamond" plan (fig. 367) rather than the "square" (fig. 366). 

 In the latter case the trees in each row are planted opposite one another. 



XXX 



xxx 



x x 

 xxx 



xxx 

 xxx 



X X 



Fig. S66. Diagram illustrating Square Eg. 367. Diagram illustrating " Diamond' 



Planting Method of Planting. 



In the former case the trees in one row are planted half-way between 

 the trees in the next row. When planted diamond fashion the boughs 

 of the trees in one row can attain a greater development before they 

 reach those of the next row; thus each tree has a greater air space and 

 gathering is facilitated. 



At the present time there are two very different methods adopted 

 for the planting of fruit trees. It must be remembered that the roots 

 of a tree serve two functions: firstly, to support the tree in an upright 

 position, especially against wind; and secondly, to traverse the soil and 

 absorb from it the ingredients of plant food necessary for the growth 

 of the tree. In view of these functions the two methods will be examined. 



