PLANTING AN ORCHARD. 593 



ORCHARD. 



I have six acres in an apple orchard. Nine years ago I 

 planted one hundred and twenty trees, which have been bear- 

 ing for three years, producing fine fruit. The remainder, about 

 two hundred and fifty trees, I planted two years ago. Pre- 

 vious to planting my trees, I plowed and harrowed the land ; 

 then took a good team and plow, and laid off the distance I 

 wanted my trees apart. I commenced on one side of my 

 orchard, set three stakes and ran three furrows, plowing one 

 each way, and leaving a middle of about eight inches wide. I 

 plowed out the same witli the third furrow, having a man to 

 bear on the plow beam all the time, and plowed as deep as the 

 team was able to draw the plow. I next measured the dis- 

 tance for the second row of trees, plowed the same, and so 

 continued until the rows were all laid off one way. I then 

 crossed the furrows, and laid off the other way in the same 

 manner, three furrows to the row. In preparing my laud in 

 this way, I accomplished two objects. First, I made easy the 

 task of planting, because very little digging was required ; and 

 second, the subsoil being loosened, afforded an under drain for 

 surplus water. In my first orchard I planted three-year old 

 trees, which did well ; in the last orchard I planted two, three, 

 and four-year old trees, but I would not plant four-year old 

 trees again if they were furnished me gratis. Two-year old 

 trees are the most desirable, because they require less labor in 

 planting, are surer, and more vigorous in growing, and a proper 

 head can be formed with less injury to the tree. Four-year 

 old trees generally have been neglected in the nursery, conse- 

 quently they require considerable trimming to form a proper 

 head, and this will make them rough and knotty. I think a 

 low headed tree is the best for this country. I formed mine 

 from two to three feet from the ground, and then kept trim- 

 ming them to give a good shape to the trees. Those that are 

 inclined upwards requu-e trimming only inside. I tliink it 

 improves an orchard to fertilize the land, the trees will grow 

 more thriftily and smoother. I planted my first orchard 

 38 



