258 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



measure and set stakes along this other side of the 

 orchard site, up to the stake at the farther end. 

 The two remaining sides should be measured and 

 staked in the same way. 



"Provide several tall stakes with a white rag tied 

 at the top of each, to use as sight poles at each 

 end. If one can run a straight line with a plow 

 without intermediate sight poles, that is, with only 

 one at each end, these will be enough ; but I have 

 found that it pays ro have an extra line of stakes 

 set a few rods from each end, and a guide pole to 

 be set at each in turn, as the laying -out pro- 



"We are now ready for the plow. Some like 

 one horse, but two make the plow run steadier, and 

 it is easier for the plowman to sight between two 

 horses than over the head of one. My plan is, to 

 first mark out crosswise to the way I intend to 

 plant, and to make but a single shallow furrow. 

 This being done, we are ready to make the fur- 

 rows in which to plant. If these run up and 

 down the slope they will act as a drain to the 

 trees, in some measure. By plowing two rounds 

 and finishing with a dead -furrow or trench on the 

 line, and then subsoiling in the bottom of it, there 

 will be very little work for the spade in preparing 

 to set the trees. It is by no means difficult to 

 set them in the checks, with a little sighting, so 

 straight that no one would know but that they were 

 set by a line. After setting the trees, hitch one 

 horse to a plow with a very short singletree covered 



