THE ORCHARD. 187 



with this we measure off on two sides the distances for 

 the rows, and put down a stake at each. We then com- 

 mence on the first row, and with the long (twenty-five 

 feet) measure mark off the places for the trees, and put 

 down a stake to each. The measurements must be made 

 with exactness, in order to have the plantation present a 

 regular appearance, as in fig. 97. 



8th. Selection of Trees for the Market or Commercial 

 Orchard. The remarks made in reference to the selec- 

 tion of standard trees for the family orchard may be 

 applied with equal propriety to these ; but the orchardist 

 must be supposed to have invested a considerable amount 

 of capital, and probably devotes his entire attention to 

 his trees, and depends upon them for his support. It is, 

 therefore, a great object with him to have early returns 

 in the form of products. An orchard of standard apples 

 will not procfuce any considerable quantity of fruit before 

 the eighth or tenth year, nor pears before the twelfth or 

 fifteenth year. In the mean time it is highly desirable 

 to occupy the ground amongst the trees in some way that 

 will at least bear the expenses of cultivation. If this 

 can be done, it is as much as can be expected in the 

 usual practice of cultivating root crops. The most pro- 

 fitable manner of turning to account the spaces between 

 the standard trees for the first ten or twelve years at 

 least, is to plant them with dwarf and pyramidal trees, or 

 dwarf standards, that will commence bearing the third or 

 fourth year after planting. This is the course pursued by 

 the orchardists of France and Belgium, where land is 

 valuable, and the cultivators are compelled to turn every 

 inch of it to the best account. Attention has been 

 slightly called to this mode of management in this 

 country, and a few persons have already carried it into 

 practice. As soon as it comes to be considered, it cannot 

 fail to recommend itself to those who are embarking 

 extensively in the orchard culture of fruits for the market, 



