APPLES 



159 



but this is not the case in hillside loca- 

 tions and particularly where double or 

 filler planting is |)racticed. Here the ad- 

 vantages of a particular system is often 

 sufficient to set aside individual prefer- 

 ences. 



Rectangular Planting' 



This system is often used in connection 

 with double planting, especially in cases 

 where the filler tree is set in the row be- 

 tween the permanents. For example, 

 trees may be set at first 20x34 feet and 

 later upon the removal of every other 

 row in one direction they are left in rec- 

 tangles 34x40 feet. It is my opinion that 

 none of the plans of this system that have 

 been suggested have much to commend 

 them since nothing is accomplished that 

 could not also be secured by square 

 planting and with a much more even dis- 

 tribution of the trees. On hillside or- 

 chards where cultivation must all be in 

 one direction, plans falling under this 

 type have some advantage but are out of 

 the question if fillers are to be used. 



Square Planting 



Square planting including the quincunx 

 plan is both simple and satisfactory. It 

 is .easy to lay out, convenient for cultiva- 

 tion and spraying, and gives a reasonably 

 even distribution of trees. It is used by 

 more growers than any other system and 

 this is likely to continue to be the case. 

 Typical square planting does not well 

 adapt itself to the use of fillers if these 

 are of the same kind of fruit as the per- 

 manent trees. This is true for the reason 

 that halving the permanent distances 

 must lead to too early crowding with the 

 result that the fillers will have to be re- 

 moved before they have yielded any con- 

 siderable profit. The quincunx plan is not 

 subject to this criticism. This after all is 

 nothing less than square planting. By 

 locating a filler in the center of the 

 squares formed by the permanent trees, 

 a system of smaller squares is produced 

 but with the widest alleys running diag- 

 onal to the permanent rows. The quin- 

 cunx method may be considered ideal for 

 double planting on land that is level or 

 only slightly sloping, but the fact that the 

 system of alleys formed by the fillers and 



permanents together are diagonal to the 

 l)ermanent rows and therefore leave the 

 base line at an angle of 4.5 degrees ren- 

 ders the method unsuitable for hillsides. 

 (See Plate I, Fig. 1, p. 161.1 



The simple form of square planting is 

 desirable on level land where the filling is 

 with peach or other quick-growing fruit 

 and. therefore, in the row between the per- 

 manent: it is also practicable on sloping 

 land where this type of filling is practiced 

 and where filling is not practiced at all. 



Triangular, Hexagonal or Septuple 

 Planting 



This system of planting has many ad- 

 vocates. A great many advantages have 

 been claimed for it, such, for instance, 

 as more even distribution of trees with 

 the consequent better opportunity for 

 each tree to secure its proper share of 

 food, space, light and air: also the fact 

 that wide, wind-swept alleys are avoided. 

 There is no doubt but that all of these 

 items are advantages but their impor- 

 tance has been greatly overestimated. The 

 best reason that can be given for the 

 adoption of this system on level land is 

 the personal preference of the planter. 

 This will easily outweigh any other real 

 or imaginary advantage in reaching a de- 

 cision between triangular and square 

 planting. The greatest advantage of this 

 type of planting is one that I have not 

 seen emphasized. It permits triple plant- 

 ing and at very satisfactory distances. 

 Thus if the trees are first set 23 feet 

 apart the removal of two rows of every 

 three later on will leave the permanents 

 40 feet apart. Triple planting may be an 

 advantage or a decided disadvantage, de- 

 pending on local conditions. If fillers are 

 set at the centers of triangles this will 

 result in twice as many fillers as per- 

 manents and will give a choice of one of 

 three varieties instead of one of two as 

 in case of the quincunx system of fillers. 

 In view of our uncertainty in regard to 

 the most profitable variety for a given lo- 

 cation, this extra row of fillers may be a 

 very great advantage. 



Another important advantage of this 

 plan applies only to hillside planting. Fill- 

 ing can be employed in such cases if tri- 



