APPLES 
put this is not the case in hillside loca 
tions and particularly where double or 
filler planting is practiced. Here the ad- 
vantages of a particular system is often 
sufficient to set aside individual prefer- 
ences. 
Rectangular Planting 
This system is often used in connection 
with double planting, especially in cases 
where the filler tree is set in the row be- 
tween the permanents. For example, 
trees may be set at first 20x34 feet and 
later upon the removal of every other 
row in one direction they are left in rec- 
tangles 34x40 feet. It is my opinion that 
none of the plans of this system that have 
been suggested have much to commend 
them since nothing is accomplished that 
could not also be secured by square 
planting and with a much more even dis- 
tribution of the trees. On hillside or- 
chards where cultivation must all be in 
one direction, plans falling under this 
type have some advantage but are out of 
the question if fillers are to be used. 
Square Planting 
Square planting including the quincunx 
plan is both simple and satisfactory. It 
is easy to lay out, convenient for cultiva- 
tion and spraying, and gives a reasonably 
even distribution of trees. It is used by 
more growers than any other system and 
this is likely to continue to be the case. 
Typical square planting does not well 
adapt itself to the use of fillers if these 
are of the same kind of fruit as the per- 
manent trees. This is true for the reason 
that halving the permanent distances 
must lead to too early crowding with the 
result that the fillers will have to be re- 
moved before they have yielded any con- 
siderable profit. The quincunx plan is not 
subject to this criticism. This after all is 
nothing less than square planting. By 
locating a filler in the center of the 
squares formed by the permanent trees, 
a system of smaller squares is produced 
but with the widest alleys running diag: 
onal to the permanent rows. The quin- 
cunx method may be considered ideal for 
double planting on Jand that is level or 
only slightly sloping, but the fact that the 
system of alleys formed by the fillers and 
159 
permanents together are diagonal to the 
permanent rows and therefore leave the 
base line at an angle of 45 degrees ren- 
ders the method unsuitable for hillsides. 
(See Plate I, Fig. 1, p. 161.) 
The simple form of square planting is 
desirable on level land where the filling is 
with peach or other quick-growing fruit 
and, therefore, in the row between the per- 
manent; it is also practicable on sloping 
land where this type of filling is practiced 
and where filling is not practiced at all. 
Triangular, Hexagonal or Septuple 
Planting 
This system of planting has many ad- 
vocates. A great many advantages have 
been claimed for it, such, for instance, 
as more even distribution of trees with 
the consequent better opportunity for 
each tree to secure its proper share of 
food, space, light and air; also the fact 
that wide, wind-swept alleys are avoided. 
There is no doubt but that all of these 
items are advantages but their impor- 
tance has been greatly overestimated. The 
best reason that can be given for the 
adoption of this system on level land is 
the personal preference of the planter. 
This will easily outweigh any other real 
or imaginary advantage in reaching a de- 
cision between triangular and square 
planting. The greatest advantage of this 
type of planting is one that I have not 
seen emphasized. It permits triple plant- 
ing and at very satisfactory distances. 
Thus if the trees are first set 23 feet 
apart the removal of two rows of every 
three later on will leave the permanents 
40 feet apart. Triple planting may be an 
advantage or a decided disadvantage, de- 
pending on local conditions. If fillers are 
set at the centers of triangles this will 
result in twice as many fillers as per- 
manents and will give a choice of one of 
three varieties instead of one of two as 
in case of the quincunx system of fillers. 
In view of our uncertainty in regard to 
the most profitable variety for a given lo- 
cation, this extra row of fillers may be a 
very great advantage. 
Another important advantage of this 
plan applies only to hillside planting. Fill- 
ing can be employed in such cases if tri- 
