314 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



of four or five feet in height ; the apples being wrought on 

 crab-stocks and the pears on free-stocks, and commonly such 

 as are one or two years from the graft. In tliis instance, the 

 Herefordshire orchardists commit an error, by planting trees 

 often five, six, or more years fi'om the graft, expecting thereby 

 to have them in fruit sooner, and that they will not be so liable 

 to be injured by cattle ; but they would be more successful if 

 they planted younger trees, and were at more trouble in pro- 

 tecting them, not only while young, but also when they are 

 fully established. Care should also be taken, in taking them 

 up, that their roots be not bruised nor twisted, and that they 

 be carefully packed, if sent to a distance. 



PLANTING THE TREES. 



In regard to the proper distance for planting the trees, it 

 should be regulated by the natural growth or spreading of 

 them when ftilly grown, as well as by the goodness of the 

 soil. It was formerly the practice to have them planted in 

 lines of not more than eight or ten yards apart, but latterly 

 they have been justly planted at a greater distance. From 

 thirty to forty-five feet is the distance given in most of the 

 cider counties ; but this ought to be regulated by the soil and 

 sort of trees. If planted in a cold, bleak, exposed situation, 

 and in a poor soil, where the trees are not expected to gi'ow to 

 a great size, twenty-five or thirty feet are sufficient ; whereas 

 in a good soil, and sheltered situation, a distance of forty or 

 forty -five may not be too great. 



Cherries and plums may be planted at from twenty to thirty 

 feet, according to the soil and the goodness or badness of the 

 situation. But it is advisable, in the first planting, to plant 

 four trees for one that is finally to remain at the above dis- 

 tances, planting the proper kinds at the distances as above- 

 mentioned, and then the temporary plants between them each 

 way, which temporary plants should be some of the fi-eely grow- 

 ing sorts, that fririt early, such as the white or Caswick codlin, 

 white Hawthorndean apples, May-duke cherries, and Craw- 

 ford and other early fruiting pears ; or any others known in 

 the country where the orchard may be planted, that will fruit 



