256 Effective Farming 



Time for planting. Fruit-trees are planted either in the 

 fall or spring. The time depends on the climate and the kind 

 of tree. Except in Canada and the extreme northern part of 

 the United States, fall planting of hardy trees like the apple, 

 plum, and pear has the advantage that the trees start to grow 

 earlier in the spring than spring-planted trees. In the case 

 of peaches, quinces, and grapes, spring 'planting is usually 

 deemed advisable, because the roots are so sensitive to the 

 action of freezing and thawing that they may be injured dur- 

 ing the winter. Nevertheless, peaches and quinces are some- 

 times successfully planted in the fall. 



Distances for planting. Often fruit plants are set too close 

 together. The trees and vines send out their roots for rela- 

 tively long distances and too close planting means lack of food 

 and interference with the spraying, harvesting, and other work 

 of the orchard. Bailey gives the following as the outside aver- 

 age limit for fruits in the Northeastern States : 



Apples 35 to 45 ft. 



Apples, dwarf . . . . 10 to 15 ft. 



Pears, standard .... 20 to 25 ft. 



Pears, dwarf 12 ft. to 1 rod 



Quinces 1 rod. 



Peaches and nectarines . 20 ft. 



Plums 20ft. 



Apricots 20 ft. 



Cherries, sour . . . . 20 ft. 



Cherries, sweet . . . . 30 ft. 



Pecans 40 ft. 



Grapes 6 X 8 to 8 X 10 ft. 



Currants 4 X 6 to 6 X 8 ft. 



Blackberries 4 X 7 to 6 X 9 ft. 



Raspberries 3 X 6 to 5 X 8 ft. 



Strawberries 1 X 3 or 4 ft. 



Cranberries 1 or 2 ft. apart each way 



