PEELIMINAEIES TO PLANTING. 



SSUMING, dear reader, that you have already 

 decided to plant an orchard, tl e next thing 

 to do is to fix upon its extent. In the con- 

 sideration of this question of extent, two other 

 important matters are to be taken into account 

 — these are, the quantity of ground you may 

 have suitable and to spare, and the amount 

 of means you can set apart for the purpose. In settling these 

 points you should possess, first, a knowledge of the kind of ground 

 necessary; and second, a determination to do the work well, at 

 "whatever cost. 



For an ordinary family of five to ten persons, not less than three 

 acres wiU suflSce for home consumption alone— and as many more 

 as can be made profitable for market use. On these three acres 

 can be stocked from two to three hundred standard trees of the dif- 

 ferent sorts of fi'uit, besides a due proportion of aU the smaller 

 kinds — an amount w^hich, if properly managed, will in a few years 

 afibrd an ample supply for family use. 



COST. 



The cost of first planting will vary widely in different localities 

 —depending on the condition of the ground, the (quality of the soil, 

 prices of trees, price of labor, etc. An approximate calculation 

 may be made, however, by estimating the cost of preparing the 

 ground and planting the trees, at an amount equal to the cost of the 

 trees in the nursery ; and when ditching and underdraining is 

 necessary, at double that amount. The following rule should be in- 

 flexibly observed in all cases : Never slight the icorlc, nor 'plant an 

 inferioi' tree^ hecause 'it is cheaper to do so ! Work half done is 

 very poor economy in planting an orchard, as well as in most other 

 things; and a tree '^osting only half price in the nursery, may turn 



