26 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



soil, or, more properly speaking, it makes the plant food more 

 available. 



In laying out an orchard it is desirable to have it symmetrical 

 in order to economise the land and to provide for facility in 

 further use and care. There are various methods of aligning 

 trees, each method having its own peculiar advantages. The 

 principal forms are the square, the quincunx, and the hexagonal. 

 The first two are those most commonly used. 



By the square method, if the trees are 20 ft. apart, 108 trees 

 are planted to the acre. This is one of the best forms for an 

 orchard. By the quincunx method the number of rows are 

 doubled, and a tree planted in the centre of every square. At 

 20 ft. apart by this method 199 trees may be planted per acre. 



The hexagonal system makes the trees equilateral, equally 

 distant one from the other in every direction. Six trees form a 

 hexagon and enclose a seventh. By this method at 20 ft. apart 

 126 trees are planted to the acre. 



The distance at which trees are planted in orchard rows 

 varies considerably, but the method usually followed in planting 

 Peaches, Prunes, and Apricots is to allow a space of 20 ft. 

 between trees, which gives 108 to the acre. The trees grow so 

 luxuriantly here, however, that the limbs often intertwine and 

 make cultivation difficult. In many of the orchards planted 

 recently the trees are 25 ft. apart, and in some cases 30 ft. 



The prices of nursery stock vary so much that it is difficult to 

 quote. Trees of the several varieties have in some seasons 

 commanded from Is. O^d. to Is. 3rf. each, while in others they 

 fell to 4d. and ±\d. The general average price of good trees 

 during the past ten years has been from 6d. to l\d., new and 

 choice varieties ruling a little higher. Last year good Prune 

 trees on Myrobolan stock could be had for 3^., and on Peach 

 stock 2\d. to 2\d. Apricot trees were l\d. and Peach trees 5d. 



The cost of cultivation varies. Usually parties will take con- 

 tracts to plough shallow for 8s. an acre, and deep for 12s. an acre. 



The digging of holes and setting of the trees costs from 2^/. 

 to 3hd., according to the soil. It is within range to have orchards 

 planted with trees 20 ft. apart at the following figures : — 



£. s. d. 



Ploughing and harrowing 0 12 0 



108 trees at 3f<2. each 1 11 Of 



Staking, digging, planting 1 11 Of 



Total cost 



