56 SCIENCE AND FRUIT GROWING 



arises, therefore, whether the advantage given to the trees on 

 the hexagonal system is sufficient to counterbalance these dis- 

 advantages. 



To settle this, plantations of 36 plum trees of three different 

 varieties were made on the two systems, and each plantation 

 was further extended so that none of the 36 trees in it should 

 be outside trees. At the same time a third plantation was made 

 on a rectangular system wherein the distances between the 

 trees were twice as great in one direction as in the other. Close 

 planting was adopted, in order that results might be obtained 

 early, the actual distances between the trees being : square 

 arrangement, 6 feet; rectangular, 4/24 and 8*48 feet; hexagonal, 

 6*53 feet. The fruit crops afforded no certain evidence, owing 

 to the damage done by spring frosts, so the weights of the trees, 

 when these were lifted eleven years later, had to be taken as 

 expressing the results : they were 



Square .... 100 



Rectangular .... 1007 

 Hexagonal . . . .1017 



showing only an inappreciable difference in favour of the hexago- 

 nal arrangement, certainly not sufficient to counterbalance any 

 disadvantages from the point of view of ease of cultivation. 



When the square, or any rectangular system of arrangement 

 is adopted, the question arises whether it is better to have the 

 rows running due N. and S., E. and W., or running to intermediate 

 points of the compass. This was examined by planting sets of 

 trees, with each tree surrounded by four canvass screens represent- 

 ing neighbouring trees, these screens being located towards the 

 different points of the compass, and being enlarged each year, 

 and moved further away, as the trees grew. At the end of 

 seven years the trees were lifted, when their relative weights 

 showed that no appreciable difference had been made by the 

 different positions of the screens ; and it thus appears imma- 

 terial in what direction the rows of trees in a plantation are set. 



Square system (N. S., E. W.) . . 100 



(N.E., S.W., etc.) . . 102 



