Planning and Planting the Orchard 49 



to work in the spring; we may almost say, the earlier 

 the planting the better. The tree makes its start from 

 stored-up plant-food, and any growth the tree makes 

 before it is planted weakens it that much. If it is neces- 

 sary to delay the planting, every effort should be made 

 to hold the trees in dormant condition; and, if they are 

 kept in this condition, good "stands" may be secured 

 by planting, even after the orchards are practically in 

 full leaf. But the chances are against the young orchard 

 planted late, and planting with the opening of spring is 

 recommended. 



Methods of Planting 



Too much care cannot be given to laying out the young 

 orchard in a neat and attractive way, and 'there is much in 

 knowing how. If the proposed orchard site is a square or 

 a rectangular plot, and the trees are to be set on the rec- 

 tangular plan, one of the simplest methods of laying out 

 is to establish the boundary lines and lay off on two oppo- 

 site sides the distances between rows, and on the other 

 two sides the distances between trees. These points are 

 marked with stakes that can be easily seen across the 

 field, and with these points established, a few more rows of 

 stakes should be sighted-in through the middle. Unless 

 the field is very large or rough, two rows of stakes through 

 the middle will be sufficient and, we may say, desirable, 

 as with four established points any stake knocked down 

 in marking may be reset without the aid of a second 

 man to do the sighting. 



If the field is irregular, the best plan is to establish the 

 boundary lines of the largest rectangular plot it contains, 



