240 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



allow it to possess an individuality all its own. 

 An additional reason for sparse planting has lately 

 become important, the necessity of spraying for in- 

 sect and fungous pests; and for this reason, as well 

 as to allow of better cultivation, the outside rows 

 should not be set close to fences. The distance at 

 which trees may be set depends much upon the 

 system of pruning. If heading-in is followed vigor- 

 ously and systematically, trees may be set a third 

 nearer than if allowed to take their natural form. 

 Heading- in should always be practiced with dwarf 

 pears, and many of our best growers pursue it with 

 peaches, plums and quinces. Thin planting is the 

 safer rule for the majority of cases. The following 

 table may be supposed to represent the outside aver- 

 age limit for the planting of fruits in New York, when 

 the plants are allowed to take their natural form: 



Apples, 40 ft. each way. 



- dwarf, 10 to 15 ft. 



Pears, standard, 20 to 25 ft. 



dwarf, 12 ft. to 1 rod. 

 Quinces, 1 rod. 

 Peaches and Nectarines, 20 ft. 



Plums, 20 ft. 



Apricots, 20 ft. 



Cherries, sour, 20 ft. 



sweet, 30 ft. 

 Figs, 20 to 25 ft. 

 Kaki, 20 to 25 ft. 

 Pecans, 40 ft. 



