170 GARDEN DESIGN 



to each other, particularly when attention has 

 been paid to planting the hardiest sorts on the 

 outside. They should have from 18 to 25 ft. 

 distance allowed between them, and while young 

 it is a good plan to interplant with varieties in 

 bush form. These will occupy the ground for 

 about ten years, giving good crops, before they 

 need be removed for the sake of the standards. 



The best results in fruit are undoubtedly ob- 

 tained from ground that has been first well trenched 

 and then kept clean. On the other hand grass 

 orchards are prettier, and require less labour in 

 their upkeep. A satisfactory compromise is to 

 start clean and keep the ground open for the first 

 three years after planting, while the trees are mak- 

 ing themselves at home, and the strips of open 

 ground between can be used for strawberries, or 

 cabbage crops. In the spring of the third year 

 the orchard may be sown with grass. 



If a pasture be allotted to the orchard, and it is 

 not desirable to plough it up, stations must be 

 made for each tree, digging and preparing the soil 

 for a square of 5 ft., and 3 ft. deep, breaking up 

 the bottom ; and for two feet radius from the tree 

 the ground must be kept clean. The advantage 

 of regular spacing without the stiffness may be 

 gained by marking out the ground into regular 

 squares and planting a selection of the stations 

 found. Diagram 68 shows a pasture planted in 

 groups, and yet every tree has been fairly spaced, 



