New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 469 



In choosing a location for an orchard we must consider latitude, 

 altitude, and general topographic conditions, especially prox- 

 imity to large bodies of water, since these all affect general 

 climatic conditions. 



Perhaps fully as important as general location, however, is the 

 choice of a particular field on which to plant fruit trees or grape 

 vines. Omitting all discussion of soil, markets, roads, and other 

 surroundings, the lay of the land may frequently determine its 

 value for an orchard or vineyard. Every fruit plantation has a 

 local climate varying in the different parts of the tract in accord- 

 ance with the lay of the land. Low-lying spots show the greatest 

 extremes — lowest temperature in cold weather and highest tem- 

 perature in hot weather. Conversely, on the elevated portions of 

 a tract the temperature is most equable — less cold in low tem- 

 perature, less hot in high temperatures. The direction of the 

 slope of the ground causes variation in the temperature probably 

 because of the greater amount of heat absorbed from the sun by 

 southerly slopes and because of the different exposures to pre- 

 vailing winds. A slope also gives better air drainage than a level. 

 The difference between high land and valley, slope and plain, is 

 often amply sufficient to account for the idiosyncrasies in frost 

 injuries so often noted. 



Some fruit growers in the State claim to obtain a certain de- 

 gree of immunity from frost through good air drainage secured 

 by planting at a sufficient distance so that tops do not touch and 

 by keeping the heads within bounds by pruning. 



Quite as essential as location in doing the little that can be 

 done to avert frost injury is the selection of varieties. Some 

 varieties of each of the several fruits blossom later than others 

 and these are usually in least clanger of frosts. The length of 

 time during which different varieties are in blossom is worth con- 

 sidering, though it varies considerably in accordance with the 

 fruit, the variety, and, most of all, the weather. 



The average length of the period of bloom for the different 

 species of fruits is: For apples, about 9 days; for pears, 1 days; 

 for peaches, 8 days ; for plums, 7 days ; for cherries, 7 days, and 

 for grapes, 10 days. The time from first blossoms until all have 

 dropped may vary greatly, as the blossoms of some fruits do not. 

 last longer than 48 hours in very hot, dry weather. Blossoms of 

 tree fruits, after opening, do not close night or day, though pol- 

 lination probably takes place during the day only. 



