72 MANUAL OF GENERAL AGRICULTURE. 



60. LAYING OUT AN ORCHARD. 



In laying out an orchard it is necessary to have one 

 side and one end of the field at right angles. Often there 

 are regular subdivisions to work from ; but, if there are 

 none, these two lines, called base-lines, may be estab- 

 lished with a transit. If the base-lines cannot be estab- 

 lished in any other way, proceed as follows to find a 

 square corner. Begin at the corner stake and measure 

 off 60 feet along one line with a steel tape, and put in a 

 stake. Then from the starting point measure off 80 feet 

 as nearly at right angles with the first line as can be 

 judged with the eye, and describe an arc of several feet, 

 holding one end on the corner stake. Then from the 60 

 foot mark measure diagonally across to a point on the arc 

 that is 100 feet from the 60 foot mark and set a stake 

 there. The three stakes will then form a square corner. 

 The distances 30, 40 and 50 feet would do as well, if your 

 tape is only 50 feet long. 



There are two methods of planting, the square and 

 the equilateral triangle, but as the square method is the 

 one in general use, this method alone will be described. 



Make at least thirty stakes about half an inch square 

 and one foot long. These may be split out of redwood or 

 pine. (If six inches of the end of each is dipped in white- 

 wash they can be readily seen, and should any of the 

 stakes be out of line it will be noticed at once.) 



Obtain a piece of No. 10 gauge galvanized wire ; and, 

 if the trees are to be 20 feet apart, the wire should be 202 

 feet long; if 24 feet apart 242 feet long, etc. Attach to 

 each end of the wire a three-inch iron ring by bending the 

 wire. Not over a foot from the original end of either end 

 of the wire, wrap a piece of small wire, making three laps 

 and solder into place. 



In the same way solder into place a small piece of 

 wire every 20 feet along the wire if the trees are to be 

 20 feet apart. In handling the large wire be careful not 

 to get a kink in it as it can be easily broken in this way. 



Having established base-lines, place a stake in each 

 corner of the field, set stakes for ten trees for each stretch 



