PLANTING AND CARE OF THE ORCHARD. 



37 



Planting the Orchard. 



There are a number of systems of setting trees. The ones 

 most generally used are the square, quincunx and hexagonal 

 systems. The lay of the land and the size of the orchard will 

 influence to some extent the choice of a system. Trees are more 

 often set too close than too far apart. This, in fact, is the danger 

 in using fillers. (The use of fillers is discussed on page 46.) 

 One does not like to remove a tree, once it is grown, even 

 though it is injuring other trees. 



It is always important that the rows run straight both ways 

 since the orchard looks better and is cared for more easily. The 

 first thing to do is to establish a base line and work from this. 

 It is usually safer to have a surveyor establish this line than to 

 trust to a road or fence unless the road is known to be on the 

 proper line. Having the base given, it is an easy matter to 

 establish the two perpendiculars to this and the fourth side par- 

 allel to the base. This gives the outside trees of the orchard. 

 Then, by using the outside trees as sight stakes the other rows 

 may be made straight both ways. If the land is laid off with a 

 marker one way and a plow the other, the trees are quite easily 

 put where they belong by sighting to the trees set at the ends of 

 the rows. 



Square System. Of the systems named above the square 

 system is the most often used. It does not permit of so many 

 trees per acre, but is easily laid out, permits of easy cultivation 

 and allows systematic thinning of trees later in its life when 

 the trees crowd. 



F F F F F 



P P P F P 



F F F F F 



Jquare System 



P I' P F P 



Square System with Fillers 



