Fillers

Whether or not the planter of an apple orchard should use

fillers is a question which he alone must decide. In the writer's

opinion there are more advantages than disadvantages in so doing, but

we must state both sides of the question and let the reader judge for

himself. The term "filler" is one used to designate a tree planted in

the orchard for the temporary purpose of profitably occupying the

space between the permanent trees while these are growing and not yet

in bearing. Fillers make a more complete use of the land, bringing in

larger as well as quicker returns from it, three distinct advantages.

(See Chapter XII, The Cost of Growing Apples.) On the other hand,

objections to their use are that they are often left in so long that

they crowd and seriously injure the permanent trees, and that their

care often requires different operations and at different times from

the other trees, such as spraying, which may result in injury to the

permanent trees in the orchard.



Trees used as fillers for apples should have two important

characteristics; they should be rapid, vigorous growers and should

come into bearing at a very early age. Two kinds of fillers are

available, those of the same species, which may be either dwarf or

standard trees, and those of a different species, of which peaches and

plums, and possibly pears, are the best adapted. Dwarf trees may be

dismissed from our plans with the statement that they have rarely

proved profitable under ordinary conditions, as they are much more

difficult to grow than standards and when grown they have but few

advantages over them. The varieties of standard apples which are

advisable as fillers have been indicated in Chapter II.



The use of peaches and the Japanese plums, both of which make

excellent fillers because they grow rapidly and come to heavy bearing

quickly, is limited to their soil and climatic adaptation. They are

adapted to the lighter phases of soil and the more moderate climates

and under other conditions are impracticable. On heavier soils and in

more rigorous climates the European plums and the more rapid and early

bearing pears, such as the Keiffer, make fairly good fillers.



On the whole, the writer is inclined to advise the use of fillers in

the general farm orchard. Quicker returns from an investment of this

nature, which is usually heavy and which at best must be put off

several years, are very important. Under careful and intelligent

management the objections to their use are easily overcome.



SPACING AND ARRANGEMENT OF TREES.--The distance apart of planting

depends on the variety planted. Close headed, upright growing trees

may be planted closer together than spreading varieties. Some

varieties grow larger than others, and the same variety may vary in

size on different soils. It is seldom advisable to plant standard

apple trees in the latitude of New York closer than thirty feet, or

farther apart than fifty feet. Trees of the nature of Twenty Ounce and

Oldenburg (Dutchess) should be planted from thirty-two to thirty-six

feet apart, while Baldwins, Rhode Island Greenings, and Northern Spies

represent the other extreme and will require forty, and sometimes

fifty feet of space. The method and thoroughness of pruning influences

the size of trees greatly, and hence the distance at which It is

necessary to set them.



Varieties top worked on other stocks have a tendency to grow more

upright and may be set closer together. It should be remembered in

this connection that the roots of a tree extend considerably beyond

the spread of the branches. From thirty-five to forty feet is a good

average distance and trees should be trained so as to occupy this

space and no more. Where fillers are used the latter distance is best,

as the twenty feet apart at which the trees will then stand is close

enough for any standard variety.