ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 203 



Second. The distance apart to set the trees. This should be 

 18 or 20 feet, just as the field will lay out in rows; say 18 

 feet each way or 135 trees to the acre. This distance I know 

 you will think too close to set them. I will give you my reasons 

 for setting the trees this distance, which has very much to do 

 with the early profits from the orchard. Trees set 18 feet apart 

 each way will take 135 trees to the acre, while if set 35 feet apart, 

 the distance more generally recommended, only 35 trees are set. 

 Trees set on good ground, fed, cultivated, and cared for, as I 

 will direct hereafter, should come into bearing the fourth year 

 after planting and they should bear one-half bushel per tree; 

 the fifth year one bushel per tree ; the sixth year two bushels ; 

 the seventh year one barrel and the eighth year two barrels per 

 tree. The increase of yield annually should continue until the 

 trees are out 15 years, although, perhaps, not in quite the same 

 ratio as the first five years named. Now we have had 100 trees 

 more bearing and giving us this larger yield of fruit for 10 

 years than if planted 35 feet apart. Now let me show you what 

 this means for profit. If the trees yield at eight years (the fifth 

 year after coming into bearing) two barrels of apples per tree, 

 it is safe to say the average yield for 10 years (until the trees are 

 15 years old) would be 3 barrels per tree. This gives for 135 

 trees per acre, 405 barrels of apples per year, and for 10 years 

 4050 barrels ; while if the trees had been planted 35 only to 

 the acre, and the yield 3 barrels per tree, would be 105 barrels, 

 or 1,050 barrels for the ten years. These at $1.50 per barrel 

 would give you for the acre of 135 trees for the 15 years' set and 

 10 years bearing, $6,075, while for the acre set 35 feet $1,575 oi" 

 $4,500 more money from the acre by planting 18 feet apart. 

 Now at 15 years, if these trees touch each other, suppose they 

 were cut down and cleaned otT, we have more money from the 

 acre than the orchard set 35 feet apart would produce in 25 

 years, if not in 30 years; but we need not do this, for we can 

 and must cut out every other tree, leaving the trees in the rows 

 diamond shape, with 67 trees left to bear five years more before 

 crowding again. Then take out every other row again, and we 

 have 34 or 35 trees left to go on and bear, as would be the case 

 if set 35 feet apart at first; or which I think would be better, 

 the tops could be cut off of every other tree, the same as if to 

 top-graft, and let the top come up new again. When they come 



