SYSTEMS OF CULTURE-ORCHARDING. 



rjlHBEE methods of growing hardy fruits for profit are practised in this country : 1, 

 simple orcharding: tall standard trees planted on grass; 2, similar trees planted on 

 tilled ground with bush fruits as an undercrop, the ultimate object being an orchard 

 on grass ; 3, cultivated plantations : low standard trees on dwarfing stocks, also pyramid 

 or bush form, in association, or each fruit allotted a portion of ground to itself; no grass. 



Simple Orcharding. This system is the oldest and still has its advocates, but it cannot 

 be recommended to any but those owning land or holding it under long and renewable 

 leases, in favoured situations and naturally good soils. Under these circumstances the 

 fruit grown by cared-for trees is good and the crops often abundant. Each grower 

 claims superiority ; the orchardist for fruit grown on grassland, the plantationist for fruit 

 produced on cultivated land. Orcharding suits the farmer, as it entails the least first 

 cost and subsequent maintenance ; while grass land has special attractions for poultry, 

 the orchard being also useful for pigs, sheep (at lambing time) and young cattle ; the 

 grassy bed is, moreover, favourable for wind-fallen fruit. 



The formation of an orchard of mixed fruits for home use or market having received 

 attention in Vol. I. (pages 82 90), with a plan (Fig. 14, page 89), showing arrangement : 

 also planting, pruning, and staking being illustrated (Fig. 31, page 149), it only remains to 

 treat of orcharding solely for profit. The chief points to be kept in view are appropriate 

 situations and good soil, making sure of tenure by purchase or lease, and proceeding on 

 lines calculated to insure a fair remuneration on the sum originally invested, also in 

 working the concern. If in a tenancy drainage, fencing, preparing the ground, purchasing 

 trees, planting and protecting them be done by the landlord, he will be justified in 

 advancing the agricultural rent 6 per cent., and letting it on a fourteen years' lease; at 

 the expiration of the lease it may be equitably renewed for another fourteen or 

 twenty-one years at a further advance of 6 per cent, on the rental. If the landlord fore- 

 close at any time within the first term, or at the end of it, the tenant should be entitled 

 to compensation for the full term (fourteen years) at the rate of 12 per cent. Simple 

 conditions of this character are better for landlord and tenant thau the quibbling and 



