June  17,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
535 
Prolific,  bo  that  none  of  the  experimental  trees  are  ‘outside’  trees  on 
their  respective  plantations. 
“Each  plantation  represents  an  arrangement  giving  1210  trees  to 
the  acre,  and  therefore  every  tree  has  the  same  amount  of  space  allotted 
to  it.” 
To  demonstrate  this  our  noble  and  talented  experimentors  have 
adopted  three  systems  of  arrangement,  as  follows  : — Square :  “  the 
neighbouring  trees  are  1'83  metres  (6  feet)  in  two  directions  at  right 
angles  to  each  other.” 
Rectangular. — “  In  which  the  distances  between  the  trees  in  one 
direction,  2  59m.  (8  feet  6  inches),  are  doable  those  DSOm.  (4  feet 
3  inches)  between  them  in  a  rectangular  direction.” 
Hexagonal  or  Equilateral  Triangle. — “  In  which  the  trees  form  rows 
inclined  to  each  other  at  angles  of  60°  instead  of  90°  as  in  the  preced¬ 
ing  arrangements.  The  distance  between  the  trees  in  these  towb  is 
T99  metres  (6  feet  6J  inches).” 
As  these  arrangements  are  not  clearly  shown  by  diagrams,  I  have 
considered  that  it  may  be  useful  to  young  probationers  if  they  were 
given  in  the  Journal  of  Horticul¬ 
ture  with  a  few  observations. 
Square  (fig.  102,  A).  To  get 
this  we  form  a  figure  with  four 
sides  at  the  corner  of  the  plot  to 
be  planted  with  trees,  each  aide  of 
the  distance  they  are  to  be  apart, 
and  each  angle  formed  by  the 
lines  intersecting  at  a  right  angle. 
It  is  6  feet  square  ( a ),  and  in  the 
centre  of  this  put  in  a  peg — a 
station  for  the  first  tree.  This 
will  be  3  feet  from  the  side  and 
end  of  the  plot,  and  a  radius  of 
that  distance  embraces  a  circle 
6  feet  in  diameter — the  space  at 
the  command  of  the  individual 
tree,  which  is  less  than  that  of  the 
square  =  36  square  feet. 
Rectangle  (i?).  The  length 
(8  feet  6  inches)  is  measured  from 
a  corner  of  the  plot,  then  the 
breadth  (4  feet  3  inches)  from  the 
starting  point  at  a  right  angle, 
and  from  the  long  leg  and  the 
short  bisect  the  radius  of  the  two 
distances,  and  have  a  rectangle  (5) 
— a  figure  twice  as  long  as  wide, 
and  its  four  angles  right  angles. 
Its  centre  is  the  station  for  the  first 
tree.  The  dimensions  of  the  figure 
are  36  feet  28  inches,  but  of  this 
the  tree  can  only  command  the 
area  enclosed  in  a  circle  4  feet 
3  inches  in  diameter,  for  Nature 
will  assert  its  supremacy — the  tree 
grows  equally  all  round  from  its 
stem  in  spite  of  either  science  or 
practice,  and  can  only  spread 
2  feet  l4  inch  in  the  direction  of 
its  nearest  neighbour,  equally 
anxious  to  make  the  most  of  the 
advantages  present.  Therefore, 
the  rectangular  placed  tree  soon 
becomes  pinched  on  two  sides  for  room,  whilst  on  the  other  two  it 
may  grow  out  4  feet  3  inches  without  hindrance. 
The  rectangular  method  is  the  sheltering-wifid  system  of  gardeners, 
and  much  approved  by  some,  as  it  admits  of  cropping  the  unoccupied 
space  between  the  rows  of  trees,  wiih  other  advantages,  such  as  shelter, 
obtaining  and  retaining  the  sun  heat,  which  means  earlier  or  later,  as 
the  case  may  be,  and,  in  some  cases,  better  produce.  The  trees  get 
plenty  of  sun  and  air,  more  than  by  either  the  square  or  equilateral 
triangle  modes,  always  provided  the  between  crops  are  low,  kept  away 
from  the  trees,  and  these  not  allowed  to  meet  in  the  rows  so  as  to  form  a 
hedge,  thus  losing  half  of  each  tree. 
Equilateral  triangle  (£).  This  figure  consists  of  three  sides  and 
angles,  all  equal,  and  the  points  correspond  to  stations  for  trees.  To 
form  it,  proreed  as  in  forming  the  square,  for  the  equilateral  triangle 
is  only  the  half  of  an  equilateral  rhombus — an  oblique  square,  but  have, 
the  base  line  5  feet  6  inches — the  distance  between  the  rows,  and  the 
perpendicular  6  feet  6|  inches— the  distance  for  the  trees  in  the  rows. 
Its  centre  is  the  station  for  the  first  tree. 
The  trees  by  the  equilateral  triangle  system  are  6  feet  6|  inches  from 
each  other,  those  by  the  square  plan  6  feet,  and  by  both  methods  the 
trees  are  equidistant.  On  the  “  square  ”  the  trees  have  the  same  space 
in  the  rows  as  between  them,  but  those  on  the  “equilateral  triangle” 
are  not  so  far  apart  between  the  rows  as  in  them,  neither  horizontally 
nor  obliquely.  The  trees  on  the  rectangular  system  are  really  only 
4  feet  3  inches  apart,  as  half  the  space  is  unoccupied  so  far  as  the  trees 
can  make  use  of  it. 
In  Nature — it  is  the  whole  art — the  trees  grow  upward  and  outward 
equally.  It  is  the  same  with  well  managed  ones,  so  that  each  tree 
claims,  as  far  as  it  can,  its  share  of  light  and  air.  The  “  square  ”  has 
more  of  these  essentials  than  the  “  equilateral  triangle,”  and  the 
FIG 
A, 
102.— METHOD  OF  ARRANGING 
TREES. 
square ;  IS,  rectangle ;  C,  equilateral 
triangle. 
“  rectangle  ”  twice  as  much  aB  the  square.  This  is  demonstrated  by  the 
space  outside  the  circles. 
On  the  square  method  four  trees  occupy  144  square  feet,  and  the 
thirty-six  trees  that  number  of  square  yards,  thus  forming  a  square  of 
six  tranks  every  way — the  Greek  phalanx — the  best  arrangement  for 
men  and  trees. 
By  the  rectangular  system  four  trees  stand  on  ground  17  feet  long 
and  8  feet  6  inches  wide  =  144^  square  feet,  and  the  thirty-six  require 
a  parallelogram  51  feet  long  and  25  feet  6  inches  wide  =144£  square 
yards. 
On  the  equilateral  triangle  mode  the  area  within  the  lines  forming 
it  is  18  feet  28  inches,  but  every  tree  does  not  stand  in  its  centre,  but  in 
an  equilateral  rhombus — a  figure  of  two  equilateral  triangles  ;  therefore 
each  tree  has  the  better  side  of  36  square  feet  at  its  command,  and  every 
four  trees  advantage  of  something  over  144  square  feet.  The  thirty-six 
trees  in  six  rows  require  an  area  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram  of  51  feet 
long  and  25  feet  6  inches  wide  =  144  square  yards  4£  square  feet,  but 
this  must  not  be  a  rectangle,  or  a  tree  will  be  lost,  or  a  station  for  one, 
in  every  other  row,  therefore  the  trees  cannot  be  got  in,  being  three  too 
many.  If  the  figure  be  a  rhomboid — an  oblique  rectangle — they  will  fit 
in  exactly.  This  is  easily  formed,  either  on  paper  or  the  ground — at 
least,  if  it  cannot  be  done  in  theory  it  cannot  be  in  practice. 
I  have  shown  the  equilateral  triangle  system  on  the  “  square,”  but  by 
taking  forward  any  of  the  oblique  lines,  so  as  to  provide  stations  for  six 
trees,  a  rhomboid  may  readily  be  constructed.  The  loss  of  trees  or 
stations  on  the  square  is  shown  at  d.  Every  four  trees  form  the  angles 
of  a  rhombus  one  way,  and  the  other  “diamond  ” — that  for  the  glorious 
Jubilee.  Six  trees  (<?)  equidistant  from  and  around  a  central  one  (e) 
correspond  to  the  angles  of  a  hexagon,  hence  the  system  is  sometimes 
called  the  hexagonal.  Albeit,  the  tree  in  the  middle  renders  the  whole 
thing  septuple,  which  is  exactly  what  it  is  when  one  has  to  plant  trees  on 
this  little-used  system. 
I  had  intended  to  complete  the  critique  of  the  “  Working  and  Results  ” 
in  a  much  less  article  than  this  has  run  into,  but  I  found  the  whole  so 
interesting,  and  the  tree  arrangement  so  intricate,  that  I  got  lost  in 
diagrams  and  numerals,  and  in  getting  in  and  out  considered  the  matter 
might  as  well  be  traced  in  as  clear  a  manner  as  possible.  The  scale  is 
16  feet  to  1  inch,  so  now,  Mr.  Editor,  let  young  gardeners  have  a  little 
educational  exercise  in  working  the  whole  three  systems  out  to  thirty- 
six  trees,  and  in  that  way,  among  others,  the  Woburn  experiments  will 
do  good .  “  Results,”  therefore,  must  stand  over  for  another  article,  if 
room  for  it  can  be  found  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture. — G.  Abbey. 
INSECT  INVASION. 
I  AM  pleased  to  learn  that  our  old  friend  the  Persian  gentleman,  as 
“  Wiltshire  Rector  ”  once  termed  “  Y.  B.  A.  Z.,”  is  not  yet  extinguished, 
and  trust  it  may  be  many  years  before  such  a  loss  befalls  us.  It  is  to 
such  as  he  who,  after  a  busy  life  in  a  profession  demanding  the  keenest 
observation  of  cause  and  effect,  is  left  in  its  eventide  with  a  comparative 
amount  of  leisure,  possessing  abilities  of  no  mean  ordeaand  great  energy, 
also  a  thorough  love  for  things  horticultural,  without  the  fads  and 
wrong  notions  of  the  average  professional  gardener,  that  we  must  look 
to  for  help  in  solving  many  of  the  difficult  problems  which  still 
surround  us. 
“  Light  periodical  fumigation  ”  for  aphides  is  a  useless  extravagance, 
not  unattended  with  danger  if  tobacco  paper  is  used,  and  needlessly 
curtailing  the  enjoyment  of  those  for  whom  the  houses  are  kept  going. 
There  are  several  preparations  now  that  can  be  used  with  such  certainty 
and  safety  that  the  old  haphazard  plan  need  not  be  resorted  to.  Among 
these  are  the  XL  Vapourisor  and  Hughes’  Vapour  Rolls.  By 
measuring  the  capacity  of  the  house,  stuffing  up  any  large  openings  that 
may  be  there,  and  following  minutely  the  vendor’s  instructions,  you  may 
with  certainty  kill  every  aphis  with  one  operation  without  damaging 
the  tenderest  Fern  frond  or  the  leaf  of  a  Humea  elegans. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  habits  of  the  ancient  aphides,  the 
modern  ones  do  not  go  the  roundabout  way  of  laying  eggs  except  for 
preservation  during  winter,  so  that  one  properly  conducted  fumigation 
or  vaporisation  clears  your  house  entirely,  and  in  my  experience  one 
operation  has  occasionally  sufficed  for  a  whole  season,  even  with  a  house 
of  Roses.— Wm.  Taylor.  _ 
During  the  last  few  days,  without  the  cognisance  of  either  “  W.”  or 
myself,  there  must  have  been  a  telegramatic  or  telephonic  wire  between 
us.  At  times  certainly  there  has  been  electrical  tension  in  the  atmo¬ 
sphere.  but  that  would  scarcely  account  for  the  story  as  it  stands.  It 
must  have  been  something  more  tangible — and.  truly,  there  it  is — it 
must  be  the  bond  and  sympathy  of  "  Our  Journal !  ”  Hang  the  differences 
of  opinion,  say  I,  if  they  after  all  only  bring  us  closer  together  ;  if  they 
but  make  us  feel  that  we  are  co-workers,  some  in  a  very  humble  way, 
lil$e  “  Y.  B.  A.  Z.,”  others,  like  “  W.,”  practical,  inured  to  work,  and 
successful  in  it. 
Is  it  not  a  strange  coincidence — reading  like  some  incident  in  a 
romantic  novel— that  “  W.”  should  quite  accidentally  stumble  on  the 
early  days  of  my  cognomen  and  the  visit  of  my  early  friend,  and  in 
those  days  our  Journal’s  friend — “Wiltshire  Rector?”  How  the  words 
carry  us  back  1  It  is  several  years  since  I  heard  anything  of  my  old 
friend,  and  it  is  a  record  of  the  past.  But  the  strange  portion  of  the 
story  is  this — that  whilst  our  friend  “  W.”  was,  shall  I  say,  standing 
aghast  at  this  demolition  of  his  “  Young  Bachelor  ”  theory,  and  rumin¬ 
ating  thereon,  I  too  was  raking  up  the  ashes  of  memory  and  penning 
