PEACH CULTUKB. 



CHAPTER XIL 

 PLANTING AN ORCHARD. 



After the selection, the preparation of the ground is 

 naturally the next thing in order. This is quite simple, 

 but often neglected. If there are any stumps, roots, or 

 stones, they should be removed. If left they will interfere 

 ■with the comfortable cultivation of the orchard, and may 

 some day injure a tree. An orchard may be planted after 

 any crop, but corn stubble is, perhaps, a preferable ground. 

 If taste and neatness are to control, the ground will be 

 carefully plowed, harrowed, and rolled. But when hun- 

 dreds of trees are to be set in a short time, and speed and 

 economy are important objects, all this is seldom done. 

 It is quite common to do nothing more than plow the 

 ground. Even this is sometimes omitted ; and that, too, 

 without materially impairing tlie success of the job. 

 When the ground is not even plowed, it is prepared in 

 one of these two ways. 



A beginning is made by running a furrow, at the dis- 

 tance of twenty feet, say, from the fence, in the direction 

 the first row is to run ; and another, and another, at the 

 same distance apart, until the ground has been gone 

 over. Cross furrows are then run at right angles with the 

 former, and at the same distances. The trees are planted 

 at the intersections. 



The other way is very similar; the only material differ- 

 ence being, that instead of forming single furrows the first 

 time, a double one is run, and a ridge formed by throw- 

 ing two together. In order to do this accurately, begin 

 on the east side of the field to be planted, and run the 

 first furrow from north to south, nineteen feet from the 



