13 



standing out of line will be a constant annoyance to every 

 ploughman who is in the habit of laying perfectly even 

 furrows. 



After having the ground thoroughly prepared, measure 

 off the distance with a pole, and set stakes where the tree 

 is to be planted. After two rows are accurately measured 

 off on one side and one end, the measuring may be dis- 

 pensed with and labor saved by sighting in ditl'erent 

 directions while setting each successive stake. When 

 pvoperly done they should be in line looking from any 

 direction. Drive these stakes down so they will not be 

 disturbed when digging the holes. 



The distance between trees is a question that has caused 

 a great deal of discussion among fruit growers. No rule 

 has been laid down for the guidance of beginners, and 

 persons are ofi^n at a loss to know the most suitable dis- 

 tance to place the trees. They generally make the mistake 

 of planting too closely. They look far apart when young ; 

 but before many years their branches are running into one 

 another, causing them to grow tall and spindling. The 

 guiding rule should be to allow space enough that when 

 they reach full size, the sun's rays may enter freely on each 

 side. The roots, as well as the tops, should have free 

 space. For apple trees, forty feet each way will be the 

 greatest distance required. The usual distance is two rods 

 or thirty-three feet, giving forty trees to the acre. This is 

 a very convenient distance, and gives ample room for 

 cultivation. In no ca.M5 should they be planted nearer than 

 thirty feet, except in the case of dwarfs. 



The holes should be dug large enough to receive the 

 roots in their natural position, and deep enough to set the 

 tree the same depth that it stood in the nursery. It is 

 well to dig the hole a little deeper than is required for this 

 purpose, filling in the bottom with a few shovelfulls of fine 

 dry loam fiom the surface. The ground is now ready for 

 the work of transplanting. 



BUYING OR RAISING TREES. 



In selecting trees for a young orchard, too much care 

 cannot be exercised. Purchase only the very best from 

 nurseries near at home, and grown on soil as nearly like 

 that on which the}"^ are to be planted as possible. Trees 

 grown on a rich soil are always furnished with more fibres, 

 and stand the shock of transplanting much better than 

 those grown on a poor soil. Most farmers are in the habit 



