36 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



two trees in the adjoining lines, and thus they 

 stand in triangular form, the trees in the ad- 

 joining rows being slightly farther apart than 

 those in the rows. This also is best adapted 

 for a permanent plantation, as it does not admit 

 of convenient or equal thinning. 



4. The Hexagonal arrangement (see fig. 831) 

 permits a more equalized occupation of the 

 ground than any other, as all the neighbouring 

 trees are the same distance apart, each three 

 trees forming the corners of an equilateral 



triangle. This does not lend itself to ready or 

 equal thinning without the removal of a large 

 number of trees. It must be remembered that 

 the distance between the rows is less than 

 between the trees in the row. 



The question as to whether there is any ad- 

 vantage in the rows of trees running in any 

 particular direction is a difficult one, as the 

 results mainly depend upon local circumstances, 

 which are rarely repeated under precisely the 

 same form. As a general rule, it may, however. 





& 





X 





X 





X 







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\ 















X- 



X 



-X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 





X 



30 





30 



,x 





X 





X 





X- 



— 30' 







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.... 



- qni- 







X 





X 





■""A 







30' 





30 

















X 









X 





X 





X 





X 



X 





X 





X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



X 



Fig. 830— The Triangular System. 

 Stan dard Fruit-trees. Distance between the rows and between 

 the trees in the rows = 30 feet. 



SCALE: 50 FEET TO 1 INCH 



Fig. 831.— The Hexagonal System. 

 X = Standard Fruit-trees. All the trees 30 feet apart in each 



be taken that the less the trees are shaded by 

 their neighbours the better, and there is also 

 the prevailing direction of the winds to be con- 

 sidered. For this reason in many places there 

 seems to be a material advantage in allowing 

 the rows of trees to run due north and south, 

 thus permitting a free exposure to the sun's 

 rays at the most important part of the day, and 

 at the same time preventing the south-west 

 winds from sweeping up the rows of the trees, 

 though this is effected at the expense of the 

 part of the plantation which is exposed to that 

 quarter. Due shelter, as already advised, should, 

 however, always be provided on that side. 



The foregoing remarks refer mainly to the 

 arrangement of standard trees planted from 20 

 to 30 feet apart, though of course it is obvious 

 they are equally applicable to bush or pyramid 

 trees at smaller distances. Under each of the 

 systems described it is also possible to form 

 commercial plantations in which the interspaces 

 can be filled in various ways with bush and 



small fruits. We will illustrate some of the 

 most approved methods for such arrangements; 

 but as these depend chiefly upon the distances 

 at which the permanent standard trees are to be 

 planted, this matter must be referred to first. 



Standard Apples and Pears can be planted at 

 any distance from 20 to 30 feet apart, but they 

 can be classed according to their habit of growth 

 in three groups, i.e. small growers at 20 feet, 

 medium growers at 24 feet, and strong growers 

 at 30 feet. The first-named distance is also a 

 suitable one for most Plums, and the last one for 

 Cherries. But in many respects, where mixed 

 plantations are formed, the 30-feet distance is 

 most convenient, allowing ample space between 

 the lines for intercropping, an important matter 

 where quick returns and constant occupation of 

 the land with crops of some kind are needed. 

 We shall, therefore, take this as the best adapted 

 to illustrate the arrangement of plantations, 

 and it can be modified according to circum- 

 stances and requirements. 



