Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/316

294] In an extensive orchard, the proprietor will find it more advantageous to place the fruit-trees at a considerable distance; as, by such management, he will be enabled to train a greater variety of useful plants beneath and between those of a larger size. But, in a limited space of ground, such as that exhibited in the preceding Cut, the primary object will be to make the most economical use of the allotted ground, and to procure the greatest possible variety of fruit-bearing trees. Next, he will endeavour to arrange them so that they may stand in symmetrical order, and exhibit a pleasing sight. For this purpose, the arrangement here proposed, in an irregular square, will be found the most convenient and agreeable to the laws of vegetation. Thus, the eye, wherever it turns, not only perceives a straight line, and uniform groves, but the plan itself is likewise the most consistent; because each tree is planted, in a certain space, at the greatest possible distance from the other; and is in this manner less cumbersome to its neighbour, than it would be in a rectangular square. Hence the proper and most profitable disposition will be that of allowing three rods interval between standards, in the horizontal rows from east to west; and two and a half rods in the perpendicular lines from south to north. Ihis space, however, would, after some time, become too narrow; one tree would impede the growth of another, and, by obstructing the air as well as the rays of the sun, prevent the ripening of fruit; if the trees were indiscriminately planted in the spots which are marked on the plan. To obviate such inconvenience, it should be understood to be a fundamental rule, that each fruit-tree must be provided with a neighbour which is of a different growth. It will, therefore, be requisite to make such a choice of the various kinds and species of trees, that one of a vigorous growth, with a spreading crown or top, should stand next to another that expands with less luxuriance, and has fewer or lower branches. This arrangement may be the more easily accomplished, as every zealous friend of horticulture will naturally wish to possess, in his collection, at least one, or a few trees, of every valuable kind of fruit. And, in order to facilitate such choice, we have subjoined a catalogue of the principal sorts of fruit-trees.

But, though the soil and space for standards, according to our plan, be rather sparingly alotted, yet there would remain a considerable piece of ground between them unemployed, for 15 or 20 years, while they are young and growing: hence it will be advisable to plant and train between every two standards in the horizontal rows, a small or dwarf tree, with a limited top or crown; bearing early and abundant fruit, till the stems have attained so large a size, and such spreading branches, as to overshadow and stifle their useful, but diminutive neighbours. Thus, the latter must, according to circumstances, yield the room they occupy, to the former; and, after having amply repaid the trouble of rearing them, and their proportion of ground-rent, they may still, with proper exertion, be transplanted to another situation.

Among all fruit-trees, there are none better calculated for intermediate plantation between standards, than the yellow mirabelle, and the golden