To Square a Field 215 



such a way that the rows running across the field will be at right- 

 angles to the rows running the other direction. A base-line running 

 along a straight side of a field is first chosen. If there is not a straight 

 side, a straight line running along the longer side of the field may be 

 established. At right angles to this straight line and near each end, 

 may be projected two other lines. On small areas this may be 

 done with two straight-edges and a carpenter's square, but on large 

 tracts this method is not sufficiently accurate. The best and most 

 reliable method is that described in Fig. 62. At the desired 

 point (A) on the base-line a stake is set, and exactly 60 feet from 

 this on the same line another stake (B) is set. By stretching a string 

 80 feet long from the first stake (A) and another string 100 feet 

 long from the second stake (B) and by bringing the two ends to- 

 gether at (C) the position of the third stake may be determined. 

 Then the desired line is drawn from A through C to the other side 

 of the field. The same operation is repeated near the other end of 

 the field. The distance between the rows, one way, may be marked 

 off on the projected lines and the distance between the rows the 

 other way, may be indicated on the base-line and also on the line 

 parallel to it on the opposite side of the field. The rows in both 

 directions can be extended to the margin of the field. 



"On hilly lands it is often very difficult to get the trees lined up 

 properly. In such cases, telephone wire is sometimes employed to 

 stretch across the field. To indicate the position of the trees a 

 smaller wire may be wound around and soldered to the larger one 

 at the required distances. The telephone wire is stretched tightly, 

 and a stake set at every point indicated by the soldered wire. In 

 the hollow places, where the wire is far above the ground, a plumb- 

 bob may be necessary to find the exact position where the stake 

 should be set. Twine, on account of its stretching character, is 

 unsuited to this purpose." 



Another variation for the laying out of a hexagonal tract is giyen 

 by Fisher (Mont. Bull. No. 77) : "A base-line is established along a 

 fence or permanent road, running east and west and marked off at 

 intervals at which the trees are to be planted. From the stakes thus 

 established, lines, can be run across the field at an angle of 60 with 

 a surveyor's transit or other instrument that will measure angles. 

 These lines are then marked off at intervals at which the trees are 

 to be planted. If an instrument for measuring angles is not avail- 

 able, a steel tape or wire about 360 feet long should be provided. 



