drainage (which is expensive), the soil often becomes saturated 

 during wet spells, when fungus troubles will develop and trees 

 become diseased and weakened, and fail to produce fine fruit — 

 their life at the same time being measurably shortened. 



Preparation of the Soil 



Soil that will produce sixty bushels of corn to the acre may 

 be profitably converted into an apple orchard. If the field is in 

 sod, it should be broken up and a crop of corn grown, so that 

 in the year following, the land will be in proper condition for 

 planting the trees. 



B 



t 



B 



How to Lay Out the Planting Plan 

 A map or diagram of the proposed orchard giving the dis- 

 tances the trees are to be planted apart, and the names of vari- 

 eties, is quite necessary and most valuable for future reference. 

 After the land is plowed, set stakes on the four sides of 

 the field at such distances apart as the trees are to be planted. 

 Stake out two rows of trees through the center of the field at 

 right angles to each other as shown above, and locate the holes 

 where the other trees are to be set by sighting across the stakes, 

 as from A to B and C to D. This will secure alignment in all 

 directions, and is as simple a plan as can be devised. 



There are two systems of planting that may be adopted — 

 one of planting permanent trees only — the other of inter- 



