260 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



ground, and where it crosses the first one he sets a 

 stake, and moves to the place for the next stake. 

 There he makes a mark, and A then goes to stake 

 3 of the base line and holds the wire as before, 

 while B finds the crossing of the marks and sets 

 another stake ; and so on to the end of the row. 

 When the second row is complete it is used as a 

 base line from which to make a third, etc., etc. If 

 the work is done carefully the stakes will be found 

 to be in very straight rows every way. I have 

 tried it on some of the roughest hills in northern 

 Michigan, where, in newly cleared places the stumps 

 were very thick, and planted nice orchards that are 

 now over twenty -five years old, that look to-day as 

 if the trees might have been set by a compass and 

 chain. On level ground, free from obstructions, it 

 is fun to lay out an orchard so. 



"Another line method. Another cheap and handy 

 method is, to mark and set by a wire long enough 

 to reach entirely across the field. It should be 

 stretched tightly between two stout stakes that have 

 been firmly driven into the ground, and exactly on 

 the line of the first row to be planted. Directly 

 over the place for the first tree or vine, wrap a 

 small wire two or three times and twist the ends 

 tightly, so it cannot slip. Measure along the wire 

 to the next place and fasten another wire coil, and 

 so on to the end. If these little coils were soldered 

 fast they could not move. A little piece of bright 

 cloth should be tied over them, that the places may 

 be easily seen. Now, dig the holes and plant the 



