Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-12


In the last number of The horticultural,
we find au article from the editor relative 10
the distance apart that applc-trees should be
planted In an orchard II is not often that
we see 50 much straightforward sense in dis
cussing this question, which perhaps Is as
much INDUCED in as any other connected
with agriculture and with as little success.
We dissent only in the evergreen recommen-
dalton, which, in our opinion, Is not only
useless hut ii is an extra trouble and expense
hat will not be encountered except by fancy
experimentalists:
We are gradually progressing and yearly
learning to better and better understand our
climates and soils, our trees and vines; and
as we progress and come to know our own,
we throw away much of the early-day teach
ings that were brought to US from across the
broad ocean Our vine-growers commenc-
ing with their vines at three to four feet,
have gradually expanded them, until now
the majority of planters give to them eight
by ten or ten by twelve, and some even
more, according to the soil and habit Of the
sort. So, also, beginning with severe win
ter, and summer pruning, from which they
obtained a little fruit, sunburnt and half
ripened, and produced various disease in the
system of the vine, they have come to a
knowledge of the vines nature, and by al
most leaving it alone are rewarded with
luscious fruit and healthy foliage. In the
apple and pear orchard we have been brought
to place the first from thirty five to forty feet
apart, and the latter twenty-five to thirty,
thus subiccting them to all the terrible burn
ing heat Of the suns rays, in long, hot
summers drought, and to stand as it were
alone, and brave singly the storms of wind
that winter and spring bends their tops, and
crack and tear loose by leverage their roots.
We have long been impressed with the
view that these old advices of distance were
erroneous and our readers will bear us wit
ness that we have before now advised a
closer planting, and as break, also, and aid
toward shielding our fruit trees, the inter.
mingling more or less in the orchard of ever
green's.
Our own practice has been most success.
ful in apple orchards at twelve by sixteer
feet, and we have known the best result
from like distance by some extensive or
chards in the west. The past two years w
have doubted if even this distance had no
better he reduced, and in exposed, bleak
wintry situations, on prairies or bluffs, W
are satisfied it had. The closer trees ar
planted to each other, the more do they as
sist each other in breaking the force of til
wind, and in gradually ameliorating th
climate. They will sooner shield and shad
the ground and their roots, retaining thereb
greater relative proportion Of moistur
and food, they will come sooner into matu
ing and fruiting their blossoms and as the
increase in size will acquire the rough bal
that comes with maturity and belongs
them in health. so that as they become I,
thick for the light to keep them round al
full in the contour and extension of branc
they will be the better enabled to star
alone, while the fruit that has been gather,
from the trees requiring removal will
found To have more than repaid the first co
of the whole orchard.
Were we to plant an apple orchard t
day we think we should set our trees t.
by fifteen feet, and if of standard pears Il
by ten feet, if of dwarf pears or apples six |
eigh; feet, and we would us. occasionally &
evergreen tree OF some hardy variety in Il
place Of u fruit-,.re