68 FRUIT FARMING 



procuring of suitable land. In a district where little 

 fruit is grown, an idea can often be gained from the 

 growth of the few fruit trees in cottage gardens, and 

 orchards near gentlemen's seats. If Apple trees show 

 a kindl}- and clean growth, with an absence of lichens 

 and canker, and if Elm trees flourish, it will so far be 

 favourable. Exposure to prevailing winds is to be 

 avoided either by shelter planting, or, better still, by 

 taking advantage of existing woods and hedges, and 

 a slope to the south or west is to be preferred ; but 

 in order to secure a permanent orchard care must be 

 taken to have the land deeply cultivated, or possessing 

 naturally a rich soil, otherwise a few years of fertility 

 may only be the precursor of decay and disappointment. 



Having settled on a suitable position, the tenant or 

 purchaser proceeds to put the land in order for planting, 

 either by steam cultivation or by thorough digging or 

 trenching — the latter, though expensive at the start, is 

 of permanent benefit. This operation is best done 

 before the frosts sets in, that the land may settle, and 

 become purified and sweetened by exposure. The 

 ground should then be set out, and standard trees, on 

 the crab or free stock, of the before-mentioned sorts, 

 planted 24-ft. apart; requiring 75 to an acre. 



For list of best sorts see previous list — Nos. 1 to 33. 



So far for the top crop, the space between being 

 utilised by placing three, two or three year old dwarf 

 trees, between each standard, others at six feet apart 

 in the entire rows, which, less 75 for standards, will 

 be 1,135 per acre, until the plantation is filled up. 

 ']"hese dwarfs will produce the best fruit from trees 

 on the Paradise or surface rooting stock, and may 

 consist of those previously named. 



