190 PEBMANENT PLANTATIONS. 



way. Each square is composed wholly of one sort, for con- 

 venience in gathering the fruit. Each square is separated 

 from the next by a double space, or two rods. Mr. Flagg 

 objects to mixed orchards, as of apples and peaches, on 

 account of certain difficulties of cultivation. There may 

 be some force in his objection in his locality, but, accord- 

 ing to my experience, there is none at the East. Where 

 land is cheap, there is nothing gained by mixing. Where 

 land is worth from $200 to $500 per acre, the case is quite 

 different. 



Standard cherries, on Mazzard stocks, should not be 

 over two years old from the bud, with stems three or four 

 feet high. In the West and South, where the trees are 

 subject to the bursting of the bark on the trunk, it is ad- 

 visable to have the trees branched as near the ground as 

 possible ; and in such cases the Mahaleb stock is better 

 than the Mazzard, as it makes lower, more compact, and 

 fertile trees. Orchards of pyramids, or low dwarfs, on 

 the Mahaleb, may be planted at twelve feet apart, or the 

 ground may be more compactly filled by planting stand- 

 ards and dwarfs alternately, as in the case of the pears. 

 Cherries, on the Mahaleb, I would prefer to be only one year 

 from the bud, and, indeed, this is my choice on any stock. 



Apricots, on peach stocks, may be planted in the same 

 soil, and should be of the same age and character as the 

 peaches. On plum stocks they are better adapted to 

 heavy soils. 



Plum-trees, for orchard standards, should be about two 

 years old from the bud or graft, with stems about three 

 feet high. The stone fruits, in particular, should have 

 low stems, as they are more subject to the gum on the 

 trunk if pruned up high. They may be planted at fif- 

 teen feet apart, the same as peaches and apricots. Quinces 

 should be two years old, at least, and may be three from 

 the layer, cutting, or bud ; they may be planted twelve 

 feet apart, which gives about 300 to the acre. 



