74 



PLANTING PLANS FOR ORCHARDS. 



There are a number of systems in vogue for laying 

 out orchards. Each has its advantages and none are free 

 from disadvantages. The plans for orchard planting may be 

 brought into three systems, each of which has various modi^ 

 fications. 



(1) Rectangular. - According to this system the 

 trees are set in rectangles or squares. This is a conven- 

 ient plan for cultivation, spraying and other orchard oper- 

 ations. The main drawback to this plan is its waste of 

 space. It does not utilize the land to best advantage. 

 This plan is not well adapted to the filler system. A 

 large majority of the orchards reported in this survey are 



planted on the rectangular or square plan. 



a 



(2) Quin^,ux. This is a good plan, though not 

 commonly used by the growers. It is admirably adapted to 

 the filler system. It consists in planting the trees in 

 fives. On this plan, the permanent trees may be set in 

 squares or rectangles, and a filler tree placed in the 

 centre of each square or rectangle. This system utilizes 

 the land to the very best advantage and by means of it about 

 75 per cent more trees may be planted on an acre of land 

 than by the rectangular plan. 



(3) Hexagonal. - This plan, in brief, consists of 

 setting six trees equally distant in a circle and setting 



