APPLES 
know, few ever calry out their good re 
solves. 
An orchardist who has 900 acres in 
trees at Cedar Gap, near Springfield, Mo., 
* writing on the subject of close planting 
after 15 years’ experience, has the tol 
lowing to say: 
“Now that the time for tree planting 
has arrived, I desire to call attention to 
a mistake that is often made by begin- 
ners in the Ozark region I refer to 
close planting. Apple trees in good land 
should never be planted closer than 
30x30 feet apart, and on fairly good land 
95x25 feet apart. On poor soil that will 
not produce 20 bushels of corn to the 
acre apple trees are unprofitable. * * # 
These distances give room for cultiva 
tion, spraying and gathering; produce 
longer lived trees, better fruit and more 
money in the long run.” 
There are advantages in close planting 
in the row north and south as the trees 
tend to shade and protect each other; 
but after some years the roots interlock, 
and even with the best cultivation it is 
well nigh impossible to maintain the mois- 
ture needed in time of drouth. 
ERNEST WALKER, 
Fayetteville, .Ark. 
Spraying 
Close planting prevents the proper 
spraying of the orchard. Thorough spray- 
ing has come to be recognized as one of 
the first requisites of successful orchard- 
ing. The rows should be a sufficient dis- 
tance apart to admit of ready access to 
trees from every side. The exact dis- 
tance apart may vary somewhat accord- 
ing to the varieties planted and the lay 
of the ground, but in general 50 mature 
apple trees per acre, approximately 30 
feet apart, is ample. Any number in ex- 
cess of this means overcrowding and 
weakened trees. 
A. T. Erwiy, 
G. R. Briss, 
Ames, Towa 
Space Versus Soil 
The space to give apple trees in an 
orchard varies according to the soil and 
variety. On good soil the strong growing 
sorts require about 40 feet in each direc- 
* Louis Erb, Memphis, Tenn., in Practical 
Fruit Grower, Vol. VIII, No. 141 (1902), p. 5. 
177 
tion, at maturity The space between may 
be occupied tor the first 10 or 20 years 
with “fillers ” 
W J. GREEN, 
Wooster Ohio. 
Distance and Yariety 
The proper distance apart for planting 
depends altogether upon the ultimate size 
of the tree, which will varv with the 
variety, the soil, the location, and the 
kind of treatment. With good treatment, 
full grown tiees of the smaller growing 
varieties, like Wagener, Wealthy and Yel- 
low Transparent, for example, may not 
require more than 20 to 25 feet, while 
those of the larger growing sorts like 
Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening or Rox- 
bury Russet, may require from 35 to 40 
feet. When located on the heavier soils, 
especially at the base of a hill, trees usu- 
ally grow much larger, and sometimes at- 
tain a spread of 50 feet. 
The investigations of the Cornell Ex- 
periment Station based upon the behavior 
of hundreds of orchards, reveal the fact 
that within certain limits, the wider the 
spacing the greater the yield. It would 
seem advisable either to space the trees 
the maximum width or decidedly closer. 
The reason for this is that in a very 
closely planted orchard, half of the trees 
may be removed when they begin to 
crowd, leaving the remainder about the 
right distance apart, while in an orchard 
where the trees are only moderately close, 
the removal of every alternate tree would 
leave the remaining trees too far apart. 
C. D. JaRvVIs, 
Storrs, Conn. 
Soil Determines Distance 
The distance apart at which to space 
the trees should be governed largely by 
the character of the soil upon which the 
orchard is to be located. Where the soil 
is thin, as in many of the hilly sections 
of Ohio, 25x25 feet apart is a good dis- 
tance. On richer ground the distance 
should be not less than 35x35 feet either 
way, or the equivalent. Some growers 
plant 25x80, while still others who have 
had experience with apple orchards on 
very fertile soil recommend not less space 
than 40 feet between trees either way. 
