Laying Out the Orchard 27 



one of them being the square or rectangular, and the other 

 the hexagonal system, or system of equilateral triangles. 



In the square system of planting, the trees are planted 

 at right angles to each other and at the same distance 

 apart each way, the distance apart varying according to 

 the kind of tree and to the ideas of the planter. The hex- 

 agonal system allows the maximum number of plants per 

 acre at a given distance apart, being approximately 15 per 

 cent more than in the square. 



These trees are set in perfectly straight rows. 



The great advantage of the square system is that it 

 allows cultivation in either direction with the same ease. 

 In the hexagonal system the trees are planted -so that they 

 have the same amount of space all around, and alternate 

 in the rows, making the space between the rows narrower 

 than the distance between the trees in the rows. The 

 distance apart at which any variety of fruit should be set 

 will depend largely on the distance at which the planter 

 cares to set them, and to some extent on the habit of the 

 variety and on the soil. Missouri Pippin and Wagener 

 apples can be set closer together than varieties having the 

 wide spreading habit of Mammoth Black Twig. 



With apples, the customary distance for planting varies 

 somewhat with the section of the country, being wider 



