Orchard Culture — General Statements. 37 



the brightest sunshine, except when near a body of water, 

 when the slope should be toward the water (22). 



2. First-class trees should be purchased unless the buyer 

 can select the trees from the nursery. Trees sufficiently 

 grown to endure isolated planting are generally preferable 

 to older ones (23). 



3. A certificate of the health and cleanness of nursery 

 trees should be demanded (24). 



4. Land for an orchard should be well prepared before 

 planting. Land with compact soil should be deeply 

 plowed (25). 



5. The quincunx or triangle method of planting trees 

 admits a larger number to the acre than the method of 

 planting in squares (26). 



6. The trunks of recently-planted trees should be shaded . 

 for a time in climates having intense sunshine (28). 



7. The soil of the orchard should be treated to conserve 

 water during spring and early summer, and to promote 

 wood maturity during late summer and autumn (29). 



8. Cover crops are useful in jDreventing washing and deep 

 freezing of the soil, in taking up excessive moisture and in 

 supplying the soil with humus (30), 



9. Only low-growing, annual crops, that demand good 

 tillage but moderate manuring, and that are harvested 

 early, are suitable for growing in the orchard (31). 



10. The soil of young orchards should generally be well 

 plowed in spring, and cultivated or harrowed at least once 

 a fortnight until midsummer. The depth of plowing may 

 be reduced as the soil becomes subdued (32). 



11. A medium height of head is most satisfactory for or- 

 chard trees (33). 



12. Pruning should be moderate and regular, and above 

 all, intelligently performed (34). 



