HOW TO GROW FJtUIT. 
707 
large quantities of decaying vegetable matter, it will have to be first 
sweetened, and this is done by subdrainage where stagnant water is 
the cause, or by the application of fresh lime at a rate of 1 to 3 tons 
to the acre when it is necessary to directly neutralise the free acid 
present in the soil. 
When sweetened the land should be well harrowed and cross- 
harrowed with heavy breaking harrows so as to level the ground and 
completely break up the original furrows. The land is then cross- 
ploughed and again worked down fine, after which it is ready for 
planting. In preparing the land for an orchard always do so 
thoroughly ; rather do one acre well than two acres badly, for though 
it may be more expensive in the first place, it will be much more 
satisfactory and pay better in the end. 
HOW TO PLANT AND WHAT TO PLANT IN AN ORCHARD. 
Before planting an orchard the first thing is to see that the 
ground is well laid out, so that when the trees are planted the rows 
will be straight in every direction, as nothing looks worse than a badly 
planted orchard. Correct planting is also a great assistance to 
cultivation, for when the trees are planted anyhow it is impossible 
to do as much or as good work with horse cultivation as when the 
trees are planted symmetrically. The orchard may be laid out in the 
manner that is considered best, opinion differing somewhat in this 
respect, the systems usually in vogue being the square, hexagonal, 
quincunx, and alternating squares. As a general rule I prefer 
planting in squares ; the distance between the rows being the 
same both ways, and I consider an orchard so planted the easiest to 
cultivate. Many growers, however, prefer the hexagonal system, 
where the trees are all equidistant from each other, but the distance 
between the rows is less than the distance between the trees in the 
row in the proportion of 17*407 to 20. Planting in hexagons certainly 
allows of more trees being grown to the acre than planting in squares, 
the distance between the trees being the same in both cases ; but this 
is a questionable advantage, as in my opinion we plant far too many 
trees to the acre as it is. Planting in hexagons is certainly an 
advantage in exposed situations, as the trees when so planted form a 
better natural protection against heavy winds than when planted in 
squares, as the trees occupy the whole of the ground, and there are no 
avenues for the wind to go through, the outer rows thus protecting the 
inner ones. 
The quincunx is a system of planting in squares with a tree in the 
centre of each square. The idea is to remove the centre tree when 
the orchard becomes too crowded, and leave the orchard in squares. 
Planting in alternating squares is a system whereby large-growing 
and late-bearing varieties, such as walnuts, chestnuts, <fcc., can be 
grown without giving up the whole of the ground for the first few 
years to their culture. Thus the permanent trees are planted in 
squares, say, 50 feet apart each way, each square being divided into 
four smaller squares of 25 feet apart each way, the smaller squares 
being planted with quicker-growing fruit trees, which bring in a return 
whilst the other trees are growing, and which are removed when the 
whole of the ground is required for the permanent trees. 
