62 
In Australia experience has proved that the vines do better 
when planted further apart, and the following distances are met 
with :— 
Square ForMATIon. Rectangular Formation. 
per acre. per acre. 
6ft. apart ... w» 1,200 8x6 ve = 908 
7 a or .. 889 9x6 806 
8 - vex .. 680 9x7 692 
9 3 ae a DST 10 x6 726 
10 a So we 435 10 x8 545 
ll i ig v —- 860 ll x8 495 
1) Af ee. ye» 2000 12 x8 454 
14 es iv 222 ‘12 x 10 363 
The distances 12ft. by 12ft. and 11ft. by 10ft., are certainly 
excessive and an unwarrantable waste of space, the cost of periodi- 
eal ploughing, scarifying, outlay on purchase of land, clearing, 
staking and trellising, fencing, being out of proportion with the 
number of vines. For currants and sultanas and strong growing 
vines the distances might well be 11ft. by 8ft. or 12ft. by 8ft. 
In the drier districts.a superficial area of ground of 64 to 100 
sg. ft. should be given to the vine. 
The advantages of wide planting are apparent: for a 
given area of ground more vines are planted to the acre; 
the distance between the rows allows vehicles to enter the vineyard 
anywhere, for carrying away grapes or for running the burner 
after pruning, while moreover, should at any time the vines be 
put on trellis, fewer posts, less wire, and fewer holes for the posts 
will be required per acre. 
The object of reducing the number of plants per acre, as shown 
above, as one proceeds from the cooler districts towards the hotter 
or drier ones, is to equalise the development of the root system 
underground with the development of the aerial organs of the 
plant. In the South of France for instance, as well as in Algeria, 
where the object sought for is to promote a luxuriant growth and 
an abundant yield, the growth of the deeper roots must be encour- 
aged by every means, so as to make the plant independent of 
droughts, and enable it to get nourishment proportionate to its 
yield. 
So much for the distance apart vines miay be planted. In the 
case of fruit trees, a superficial area of ground proportionate to 
their natural growth must be provided for. 
Small trees like the mandarins, the navel orange, some dwarf 
apple trees, pear trees with an erect habit of growth, quince, etc., 
will require less space than the larger orange, apple, and pear trees 
or the olive tree. An orchard, however, laid out at distances vary- 
ing according to the sort of fruit grown would certainly look un- 
sightly and would moreover be difficult to cultivate; the necessity for 
