222 AMERICAN" POMOLOGY. 



out has been well done, they will range in six directions 

 N. and S. E. and W. N.-E. and S.-W. N.-W. and 

 S.-E., or to corresponding points of the compass ; for it is 

 not a matter of much consequence in what direction the 

 rows of trees stand. The holes are the deep furrows, and 

 tree stations are the spaces beside the stakes, always main- 

 taining the same relative position throughout the orchard ; 

 the nort^rn side is to be preferred, on account of the par- 

 tial shade of the stake. By adopting this plan, there 

 need be no trouble, as is often experienced, in sighting the 

 trees to have them straight, for if the stakes have been 

 correctly placed, the trees will also be right, and will 

 range in every direction, when planted. 



Before dismissing the subject of stakes, let us under- 

 stand their object and function : it is not to tie up the 

 trees, and to force them to attain an erect posture ; no, 

 that is not to be effected by staking, as will be set forth in 

 another place. Rather than tie a tree to a stake, it were 

 better to cut it down to the ground, and grow it over 

 again. The real objects of the stakes are, first, to show 

 the planter where to set a tree ; second, to show where 

 the tree has been planted ; third, to indicate to the plow- 

 man and to his horse where to exercise care in passing the 

 infant tree during the first years' culture, for an intelligent 

 animal will very soon learn what objects it is intended for 

 him to avoid injuring during his labors in the field ; a 

 fourth function of the stake is to ward off the single-tree 

 which the careless laborer may allow to strike the tree to 

 its manifest injury, tearing the bark, and even breaking 

 the stem. The passage of the wagon through the field 

 will also be directed, by these stakes, to the interspaces, 



