20 



PEGGING OUT. 



After the grade and length of the rows, as well as 

 the distance at which it is intended to plant, has 

 been decided upon, the ground has next to be pegged 

 out for planting. This is usually done by means 

 of a wire-planting line that has either metal or cloth 

 tags inserted at regular intervals at the distance at 

 which the trees are to be planted. In using, the 

 line is drawn tight, and a peg is driven into the 

 ground at every tag. 



Where the land is fairly level, or has but a gentle 

 fall, the channel may be usod as a base line and the 

 rows go off at right angles from it ; but where the 

 rows, in order to have the correct grade, branch off 

 from the channel at other than right angles, then the 

 line drawn from the channel at the angle it is intended 

 to water should serve as the base line, and all other 

 measurements should ba taken from this. 



Owing to mistakes made in the laying out of a 

 plantation remaining for the orchard's existence, 

 those without previous experience should otain the 

 aid of an experienced man to help them with this 

 work. 



PLANTING OUT. 



Citrus trees are generally planted along the Murray 

 Valley during the first two weeks of September. 

 Planting during the month of May has something to 

 recommend it, as it gives the trees ample time to 

 make new roots before the hot weather sets in. 

 Trees planted in May have to receive a planting 

 irrigation, should be protected by hessian or other 

 means from the winter frosts, and if the winter is 

 dry, as is often the case, will have to receive a winter 

 watering. As the pumping plants of most of the 

 irrigation areas are not at work during the winter 

 months, the difficulty of obtaining a late autumn or" 

 winter irrigation has militated against the autumn 

 planting of citrus, and makes September planting 

 the easiest and safest proposition. 



