HORTICULTURE 



59 



any hard and fast rule as to the proper distances as it will differ ma- 

 terially with climate and soil conditions, and the characteristic 

 growth of the variety. There is always a tendency to plant trees too 

 close. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that there is a desire to 

 use as much of the land from the beginning as possible, and because 

 newly set trees always have the appearance of being farther apart 

 than necessary. Experience has proved that serious losses in the 

 amount of fruit produced accompany close planting. Not only is 

 the crop reduced, but orchard operations such as cultivation and 

 spraying are interfered with in closely planted orchards. 



Number of Trees Per Acre Under Two Systems of Planting. 



It is believed that apple trees should not be set closer than 25 

 feet in commercial orchards, and that in most instances, 30 to 35 

 feet will be found preferable. Table shows the number of trees at 

 usual distances of planting. On large areas the figures will vary 

 somewhat. 



The Use of Fillers. As previously stated, there is a consider- 

 able area unused by the trees in a newly set orchard. One of the 

 methods devised for using this area is to plant temporary or filler 

 trees. These fillers are either earlier bearing varieties of the same 

 kind of fruit or some other kind of fruit. The fillers are left until 

 they begin to crowd the permanent trees when they should be re- 

 moved. It is doubtful whether the use of fillers should be recom- 

 mended. The fact that most of our commercial sorts are quite early 

 bearers precludes the use of earlier varieties of apple as fillers for the 

 apple orchard. The peach is largely used as fillers in the East and 

 South but is not sufficiently hardy for culture in the North, and 

 if fillers are to be used the American plum seems to be the only fruit 

 available. 



There is another objection to fillers which makes their value 

 questionable. Most growers leave the fillers so long before removing 

 them that the permanent trees are seriously injured. Perhaps the 

 fault should not be charged to the system, but so long as it constantly 

 occurs it needs to be considered. The grower should be confident 

 that he is willing to remove trees producing good crops in order that 

 all the trees may not be permanently injured. Fillers are not neces- 

 sary for the utilization of the open area between newly set trees. 



Laying Out the Orchard, Wire Method. There are numerous 

 jnethods of laying out and staking land preparatory to orchard plant- 



