194 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



an increase in growth of 1.7 per cent in favor of the 

 hexagonal planting, all the trees having been lifted and 

 weighed. This is a small gain, and probably does not 

 offset the cultural advantages of the square planting. 



Making the rows straight. 



It is difficult to make the rows straight in large areas 

 and to place the trees at proper intervals, particularly on 



FIG. 44. The diagonal, quincunx and hexagonal systems. 



rolling ground. Persons who have had areas regularly 

 surveyed with chain and compass, and a stake set for 

 every tree, may have found the orchards to be as crooked 

 as others set with much less care. The surveyor sets his 

 stakes by sighting across the field from certain fixed points; 

 but it is difficult for the planter, when the stake is removed 

 and the hole dug, to stand the tree in the exact place of 

 the stake. It is better to regard the trees as stakes and to 

 set them by sighting. The area can be "run out" on two 

 or three of the sides, a conspicuous stake being set at the 

 location of each tree on these outside rows. If the field 

 is large or rolling, it may be necessary to set one or two 

 lines of stakes across the center of the field also. For areas 

 of a few acres, a garden-line stretched across the place will 

 be a great help and save much time. This line is moved 



