492 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Junez, 1900. 
On no account should trees be planted on raw or unsweetened land, as it 
is better to wait a few months and have the land in good order rather than 
plant on such land. When the soil is ready for planting it should be laid off 
in squares, the method of doing this being fully described in the article T have 
already referred to. Planting in squares is by far the best method, as it gives 
the trees more room and is the easiest for cultivation. Don’t crowd your trees; 
give them plenty of room. You will find that it will pay you in the long run. 
Many growers make the great mistake of planting their trees too close, and 
only find it out when the trees are getting into good bearing by their having 
to cut out a number to prevent overcrowding. Close planting certainly gives 
the orchardist a quicker return for his outlay, but in a few years the trees 
become so crowded that their roots occupy every inch of the ground, and the 
tops are so near together—if not actually crossing—that_ horse cultivation 18 
impossible, the soil in consequence beeoming firm and hard and neither 
absorbing nor retaining moisture well. ; ; 
Close planting requires heavy and frequent manuring in order that the 
fertility of the soil may be maintained, and even then the crowded state of the 
trees prevents them from properly developing either their wood or their fruit. 
Close planting causes the trees to suffer from want of moisture during dry 
spells very much more than they would do were they planted at the right dis- 
tance apart, and it has also the further disadvantage that it is conducive to the 
development and spread of both insect and fungus pests. 
Close planting has also one other great disadvantage, in that trees so planted 
are much more difficult to treat for fruit pests, either by means of spraying oF 
cyaniding, on account of the want of room to get at and around the trees 
properly. 
On good citrus soil no seedling sweet oranges, sevilles, or mandarins should 
be planted nearer than 30 feet apart each way, and in the case of extra good 
land even wider planting is necessary. Worked trees of these varieties can be 
planted rather nearer if desired, say26 feet by 26feet, but I doubt much, when they 
come into full bearing, if 30 feet each way will be found toomuch. In my opinion 
the wider planting will be found to produce the best results both as regards 
quality and quantity, and that the larger average returns per tree that are 
obtained will more than make up for the extra number of trees when they are 
planted nearer. Limes and citrons can be planted at from 15 to 20 feet apart, 
and lemons and cumquats at from 20 to 24 feet apart each way. These distances 
are all for good citrus soils in coastal Queensland, in districts where there is 4 
good rainfall, and where the trees make a vigorous growth. In drierand warme? _ 
districts, even where water is available for irrigation, the various citrus trees 
will not make as great a growth as they do on the coast; consequently they can 
be planted closer without injury. 
Where wide planting, such as advised, is carried out, crops may be grow} 
between the rows of trees for the first five years, provided that they are not 
alowed to encroach upon or rot the feeding roots of the young trees, and that 
the land is well and deeply worked and well manured. 
The best crops to grow are those that are planted in drills or rows, such a8 
corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, cow peas or other leguminous crop, 
tomatoes, &e.; but the growing of cucurbitous plants, such as a) water 
or pie melons, &e., is not to be recommended. The growing of cereals, such a8 
oats or barley, either for green fodder or hay, is not advisable, as, unless they 
are kept a good distance away from the trees, they are apt to exhaust the 
moisture in the soil, and consequently injure the trees. ‘ 
Tf the growing of the right kinds of crops is carefully attended to, and the 
land is thoroughly and deeply cultivated and well manured, the land, instead 
_ being impoverished, will be actually improved and in better order than if it b 
been kept uncropped and well worked the whole time. The growing of crops 
between the trees whilst they are young, has also the further advantage that } 
the orchard is planted on a slope the crops so grown tend to prevent the wash 
ing away of the soil during heavy rain, At the same time it will not do to groW 
