62 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



vapours which arise during the vernal nights, and 

 stint the fruit in the earlier stages of its growth. The 

 trees should be arranged in uniform straight rows, as 

 being most convenient to the husbandman, and at the 

 same time exhibiting the most pleasing view to the 

 tasteful eye* The distance in the rows or squares, 

 wilt depend on the size and form of the full grown 

 tree, and on various other circumstances connected 

 with the future intentions and views of the proprietor. 

 In every instance, however, the distance should be 

 such as to prevent the extreme branches from locking 

 into each other when attained to full maturity of 

 growth. Miller, an experienced English horticultu- 

 ralist, says, when the soil is good, the distance should 

 be fifty or sixty feet, and where the soil is not so good, 

 forty feet may be sufficient. Lawson, who wrote in 

 1626, observes, that in a good soil and under proper 

 management, apple trees will, in forty or fifty years, 

 spread twelve yards on each side ; and the adjoining 

 tree spreading as much, gives twenty-four yards, or 

 seventy-two feet, and the roots will extend still fur- 

 ther. Fie therefore recommends that apple trees be 

 set at the distance of eighty feet from each other. 

 The advantages of thin planting are said to be : 1. The 

 sun refreshes every tree, the roots, body, and branch- 

 es, with the blossoms and fruit, whereby the trees are 

 more productive, and the fruit largei, fairer and bet- 

 ter flavoured. 2. The trees grow larger, and are more 

 healthy and durable. 3. When trees are planted too 

 near, the lower branches are smothered for want of 

 sun and air, the fruit is never well flavoured, and al- 

 ways small. The object is fruit, and we are not to 

 expect that the quantity will be*n proportion to the 

 number of trees in an orchard, for a few trees of a 

 large size will produce more and better fruit, than six 

 or eight times the number of those which grow near 

 and crowd one another. Again, apples are not to be 



