ORCHARDS. 



One of the simplest methods is that shown 

 in fig. 832, and it has been adopted in several 

 market orchards with satisfactory results. In 

 this, standard trees are arranged at 30 feet apart 

 each way (on the square system), with bush or 

 pyramid Apples or half-standard Plums between 

 these in the rows at 15 feet apart, and Currants 

 and Gooseberries again between these at 5 feet 

 apart. The spaces between the rows are then 

 subjected to alternate cropping in this way. 

 One space is planted with Vegetables, the second 



with Gooseberries, the third with Currants, and 

 the fourth with vegetables, repeating this order 

 throughout the plantation. When the bush 

 fruits give signs of exhaustion, or cease to be 

 profitable, they are removed, and the vege- 

 table quarters are devoted to fresh plantations, 

 the spaces previously occupied with the bushes 

 are then devoted to vegetables. In this way 

 there is always a succession of young bushes 

 in free bearing, and the land is kept in well- 

 worked fertile condition. Strawberries or Rasp- 



X 



ooxooxoo 



VEGETABLES 



X 





X 



OOXOOXOO 

 GOOSEBERRIES 



X 





X 



OOXOOXOO 

 CURRANTS 



X 





X 



OOXOOXOO 

 VEGETABLES 



X 





X 



OOXOOXOO 



X 





x . 



o 



o 



• X 



o 



o 



X 



o 



o 



X 



o • 



o 



o 



. o 







o 



o 



o 



o 







o • 



o 



o 



• o 











o 



o 



o 



o 



X • 



o 



• 



• X 



o 



o 



X 







o 



X 



X 







X 







X 







X 



X 







X 







X 







X 



X 







X 







X 







X 



SCALE: 50 FEET TO 1 INCH 



Fig. 832.— Mixed Plantation. 

 X = Standard Fruit-trees— 30 feet x 30 feet. O = Dwarf Apples, Pears, 

 or Plums 10 feet apart in the rows. Intermediate spaces cropped with 

 vegetables and bush fruits alternately. 



Fig. 833.— Mixed Plantation. 



Standard Fruit-trees— 30 feet X 30 feet. O = Dwarf Apples, &c. 

 at 10 feet. • = Gooseberries and Currants at 5 feet. 



berries can be substituted either for Goose- 

 berries or Currants, or both, or they can be 

 employed in addition; and a system of alter- 

 nate cropping such as this is most suitable 

 where Strawberries are grown. 



If the land is to be devoted entirely to fruit, 

 some modification of the scheme shown in fig. 

 833 can be adopted. There we again take the 

 standards at 30 feet apart in the square system, 

 with two rows of bush Apples, Pears, or Plums 

 between at 10 feet apart, the intermediate 

 spaces being again filled with small fruits at 5 

 feet. In plantations of this kind the process of 

 thinning simply consists of the removal of the 

 small fruits first, and the bush Apples, &c, later 

 as they become too crowded, ultimately leaving 

 the standards the whole of the ground. Pro- 

 tective and useful boundaries to any of these 

 plantations can be formed with Damsons and 

 Nuts, either as hedges or as part of the general 

 arrangement. As a rule, however, the former 



method is preferable, as there is then no inter- 

 ference with the general design. 



General Management of Orchards. — One of 

 the first considerations in regard to an estab- 

 lished orchard is how the ground is to be 

 treated in the plantation. If the trees have been 

 planted in grass, a space of six feet diameter 

 (as previously advised) being cleaned around 

 them, they require protection if cattle, sheep, 

 &c, are turned in to graze. Even if fowls or 

 pigs only are in the orchard, some means must 

 be adopted to prevent their disturbing the soil 

 over the roots of the trees. We have seen 

 young trees repeatedly ruined by their roots 

 being bared, and it is one of the difficulties of 

 the farm orchard, but a few stakes and a ring 

 of wire-netting will usually suffice to prevent 

 this. If the grass is cut for hay and not grazed, 

 the land must be treated generously in the ap- 

 plication of manurial dressings, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the trees. 



