68 Transplanting. 



so for an old one ; it is nearly as essential for a young apple-tree, 

 but much less so for an old orchard ; and still less necessary for a 

 middle-aged cherry-tree. 



Registering Orchards. Much inconvenience and often many mis- 

 takes arise from not preserving the names of varieties in young 

 orchards. The trees are received, correctly labelled, from the nur- 

 sery ; the labels are left on till the wires cut the limbs, or until effaced 

 by time, and the sorts are forgotten. In a few years the trees begin 

 to bear, but the names being gone, the owner consults his neigh- 

 bors, and probably receives very erroneous names, and thus mis- 

 nomers are multiplied for want of a timely record. 



DISTANCES FOR PLANTING TREES. 



Persons about to plant orchards and fruit-gardens, are often at a 

 loss to know the most suitable distances to place the trees. The 

 guiding rule should be to allow space enough that when the trees 

 attain full size, the sun's rays may freely enter on each side. The 

 roots as well as the tops should have free space. As a general rule, 

 the tops should never approach nearer than one-half their diame- 

 ter. 



Some varieties of the same kirfd of fruit grow to a much greater 

 size than others, but as an average, the following distances may be 

 adopted, varying with the amount of land and with the wishes of the 

 owner, whether to obtain immediately a large amount from a small 

 space, or to make a permanent orchard that shall long continue 

 without becoming crowded. 



Apples. In fertile districts of the country, where the trees may 

 attain great size, and where there is plenty of land, forty feet is the 

 greatest distance required. The usual distance is two rods or 

 thirty-three feet. Where the most is to be made of the land, and 

 where thinning-in the limbs is practised when the trees become too 

 large, twenty-five feet distance may be adopted. For pyramids on 

 apple-stocks, fifteen feet ; for pyramids or dwarf standards on Dou- 

 cain stocks, ten feet; for dwarf round-headed trees on paradise 

 stocks, eight feet. 



Pears. Large growing standard varieties, on pear-stocks, twenty 

 to twenty-five feet ; dwarf standards on quince (with stems pruned 

 up, two or three feet, the heads with natural growth, or slightly 

 thinned by pruning but once a year, for orchard culture), twelve 

 feet; pyramids on pear-stocks, twelve to fifteen feet; on quince, 

 ten or twelve feet. It should never be forgotten that pears on 



