12 feet tall. 



In this planting trees were spaced 6 feet apart in 

 the rows, with rows 14 feet apart, giving a total of 5 19 

 trees per acre. 



A major cost in the establishment of a vertical 

 axis system was the support structure (Table 3). 

 Each tree was supported by a 12-foot bamboo stake 

 which extended 10 feet above the soil surface. These 

 stakes were tied to 2 horizontal wires (6 and 10 feet). 

 Wires were supported by 4"x4" pressure-treated 

 posts. End posts were 14 feet long and were buried 



4 feet deep. Six-inch anchors were used to secure end 

 posts. Intermediate posts were 12 feet (buried 3 feet 

 deep) and were spaced 40 feet apart. Twelve-gauge 

 wire (at 6 and 10 feet) was attached to one end post 

 through 6"x3/8" eye bolts extending through the 

 posts. At the other end, 4"x3/8" eye bolts were 

 coupled to 18 inches of 3/8" threaded rod and con- 

 nected through the end post. A spring tensioning 

 device (Spring-Tight™, Brookside Industries, Tun- 

 bridge, VT 05077) was attached to the eye bolt, and 

 the wire was attached to the spring tensioning 



Fruit Notes, Fall, 1990 



