9 



of a site for orange groves, including the data summar- 

 ized in tliis hullelin, has \vd to delhiite conchisions. 



It has l)een a common error among those not lamil- 

 lar with horticulture to give too little consideration [o 

 the selection of a proper site for an orchard except 

 from the point of view of connnunication, its relative 

 distance from railroad transportation, etc. Whil(> these 

 are very important points, they may however he given 

 secondary consideration, hecause there are other things 

 of more vital importance to be considered. 



Some orchardists have believed that an orange grove 

 should not be located on a high elevation where there 

 is no protection against winds from the north-east, 

 north and north-west, but that the best orchard site 

 should have natural l^arriers against the cold wind. 

 These theories are fundamentally wrong in South Ala- 

 bama and have been so proved as shown by the maps 

 on pages 7 and 8. 



Considering an orange grove as a permanent invest- 

 ment and as an enterprise where considerable capital 

 is involved, it is important that the site be selected on 

 the basis of information contained in this bulletin. 

 This will avoid such losses as many planters suffered 

 in the fall of 1916 and winter and spring of 1917. 



The first consideration in selecting the site for an 

 orange grove should be elevation; second, freedom 

 from obstructions on all sides ; third, there should be no 

 ponds, swamps or streams adjacent and especially on 

 the north-east, north and north-west sides; fourth, the 

 soil-drainage should be as perfect as possible. If na- 

 tural drainage does not exist, a tiling system should be 

 provided. However, from the point of frost injury, air 

 drainage is really more important than soil drainage. 

 If there exist natural obstacles, the orange grove will 

 suffer not only a temporary set-back by a freeze, l)ut if 

 the temperature is low enough, the trees may be killed. 

 Where there is a steep southern slope and where the 

 composition of the soil is a light sandy loam the trees 

 will readily respond to warm weather and only a few 

 days are necessary for the trees to begin a vigorous 

 growth. A subsequent low temperature will do con- 

 siderable injury to such trees and when the tempera- 

 ture is fifteen above zero or less, the trees may not only 

 be set back for a season but may be killed. It is evi- 

 dent that on comparatively level ground where the 

 composition of the soil is rather heavy loam, the trees 

 will not respond to warm weather as quickly and con- 



