38 

 CHAPTER X. 



THE DISTANCE APART 



In the grove that trees should be set, depends upon the character of the 

 trees to be set. The seedling should have the greatest distance, the 

 gweet seedling budded less, and the sour stock budded least of all. 



In Europe, where budding on sour stock is generally practiced 

 and land is much higher than in this country, trees are set much closer 

 than is the custom in Florida. In the former country, where set in the 

 open ground, they are frequently put as close as ten or twelve feet 

 apart, and where artificial covering during the winter is resorted to, 

 still nearer. But in Europe orange trees never grow to the size they 

 attain in Florida. In some of the old groves in this State where the 

 trees stand forty feet apart the ground is completely covered by the 

 branches of trees that have grown up since 1835. Thirty or forty 

 years, however, is too long a time to leave the land uncovered. 

 Trees planted nearer together will soon protect each other. Twenty- 

 one feet apart is a good distance for budded trees and thirty for 

 seedlings. 



After the ground has been cleared off for the grove, stakes 

 should be driven where the tap-root is to rest. 



Where land is laid off in squares the following table will give the 

 number of trees that will stand on an acre: 



Distance apart. No. of trees No. of tree r > 



in squares. in diamond. 



15x15 164 180 



18x18 114 125 



20x20 90 99 



21x21 81 89 



25x25 53 58 



30x30... . 36... . 39 



