240 THE POME FRUITS 



The depth to which a tree should be planted depends upon 

 the kind of a tree, the nature of the soil and the locality. 

 In the most favorable locations a tree should be set about 



4 inches deeper than it grew in the nursery row. In very 

 dry and very light soils a tree can be set perhaps as deep as 

 10 inches. On slopes of hills a tree must be set at least 



5 or 6 inches deeper than it stood in the nursery because of 

 the slope of the land. However, where a good site with fer- 

 tile rich soil is selected, deep planting is not very desirable, 

 and usually 4 inches deeper than the tree grew in the nursery 

 row is preferable. 



Distance Apart to Plant. — The distance the apple should 

 be planted depends upon the variety, the climate and the 

 soil. In localities where the conditions are favorable for 

 growing the apple it should be set farther apart than where 

 the conditions are unfavorable. Likewise the wide spread- 

 ing varieties should be set farther apart than the compact, 

 upright growing kinds. The short-lived classes can be set 

 closer than the longer-lived varieties. In the favorable 

 apple-growing regions of the east the distance varies from 

 30 to 40 feet apart, while in some of the Pacific coast regions 

 where the apple does not grow so large the trees are set 

 from 25 to 30 feet apart. 



System of Planting. — There are several methods of planting 

 trees, but the three most common systems are the square, 

 the quincunx and the hexagonal. The lay of the land and 

 the size of the orchard determine somewhat the system 

 which is adopted. It is always important to have the rows 

 run straight both ways, since the orchard looks better and 

 it can be cared for more easily. In the laying out of an 

 orchard the first thing is to establish a base line which should 

 be determined by a surveyor when it is possible. All work 

 should proceed from this base line. 



The square system is most often used chiefly from lack of 

 knowledge of the others. It consists in planting trees at each 

 corner of a square. This system does not require so many 

 trees to the acre; it has the advantage of being easily laid 

 out, it permits easy cultivation and it allows for systematic 

 thinning should the trees become crowded later in life. 



