PRACTICAL PAPERS—ORCHARDS. 
303 
to stand, say twenty feet north and south. This land should 
be cross-plowed in the spring, a short time before the trees are 
to be set, leaving the dead-farrows where the east and west 
rows of trees are to be—say 17 1-3 feet apart, as this is the 
proper distance where the trees are to be set 20 feet apart each 
way, in the quincunx form. These dead-furrows save digging 
part of the holes, and also make it much easier to lay out the 
rows in proper order. 
Before setting out the trees drive rows of stake or fence 
pickets to guide in setting, and to be left standing for protec¬ 
tion to the bodies of the trees from the noon-day sun, summer 
and winter, and from injury in the after cultivation of the 
land. Commence setting these stakes in the first furrow, 
placing one at each point where the dead-furrows intersect; in 
the second row, where the quincunx order is adopted, they 
should stand at the highest point of the ridge thrown up by 
the cross plowings. In this way lay off the whole field to be 
planted with alternate rows on the ridges and in the farrows, 
being careful to get them perfectly straight. 
The trees are to be set two inches north of the stakes, and, 
of course, the place where they are to stand, must be pre¬ 
pared in a suitable manner. On the ridges, holes must be dug 
of sufficient size to permit the roots to bespread out straight, 
and in a natural position, and deep enough so that when they 
are covered they may stand a few inches deeper than when in 
the nursery, but be careful not to set them too deep. In the 
furrow, prepare a soit bed of well pulverized surface soil for 
the roots to rest upon, filling in or lowering as may be neces¬ 
sary to bring them to the proper position with reference to the 
surface when finished. When everything is in readiness for 
setting, take the trees, each variety by itself, from the 
trenches where they were heeled in. Before they are distribu¬ 
ted to the hands engaged in setting, “ puddle ” them. This is 
usually done by dipping the roots into a mud hole made for the 
purpose near the trenches. 
The different varieties should be kept in rows together, and 
it is well to place the earliest ones nearest to the house. 
