CHAPTER IX 
THE GROWING OF THE FRUIT PLANTS 
Fruits should be counted a regular part of the home prem- 
ises. There are few residence plots so small that fruits of some 
kind cannot be grown. If there is no opportunity for planting 
the orchard fruits by themselves at regular intervals, there are 
still boundaries to the place, and along these boundaries and 
scattered in the border masses, apples, pears, and other fruits 
may be planted. 
It is not to be expected that fruits will thrive as well in these 
places as in well-tilled orchards, but something can be done, and 
the results are often very satisfactory. Along a back fence or 
walk, one may plant a row or two of currants, gooseberries, or 
blackberries, or he may make a trellis of grapes. If there are 
no trees near the front or back of the border, the fruit plants 
may be placed close together in the row and the greatest de- 
velopment of the tops may be allowed to take place laterally. 
If one has a back yard fifty feet on a side, there will be oppor- 
tunity, in three borders, for six to eight fruit trees, and 
bush-fruits between, without encroaching greatly on the lawn. 
In such cases, the trees are planted just inside the boundary 
line. 
A suggestion for the arrangement of a fruit garden of one acre 
is given in Fig. 270. Such a plan allows of continuous cultiva- 
tion in one direction and facilitates spraying, pruning, and 
harvesting; and the intermediate spaces may be used for the 
growing of annual crops, at least for a few years. 
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