No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 413 



be planted above the level of the lake of cold air that settles in the 

 valleys at night; the warmer and more sheltered the valley the more 

 important is this point, as these places are most subject to late 

 frosts. No fixed height can be given at which it will be safe to 

 plant; it will depend upon the width of the valley and the abrupt- 

 ness of the slope at either side. Each planter must decide for him- 

 self what will be a safe altitude. 



Conditions differ, however, along the shores of lakes and broad 

 rivers; here the water tempers the air and prevents injury by late 

 frosts. We find the influence of Lake Erie extends two or three 

 miles inland, while along the Susquehanna, peaches growing close 

 to the bank frequently escape injury, while the entire crop has been 

 destroyed by frost in an orchard a mile back in the country. 



While good fruit can be grown on these bottom lands which 

 border on rivers and lakes, provided they are well drained either 

 naturally or artificially, yet as a rule the fruit will not be as high 

 colored, as fine flavored, nor have as good keeping qualities as that 

 grown on higher ground; this is especially true of the apple. 



Rainfall.— T\iQ distribution of rainfall throughout the entire season 

 is important. Trees require a large amount of moisture during 

 the growing season to properly mature their crop of fruit. As 

 the summer showers usually follow mountain ranges, the foothills 

 of the mountains and high narrow valleys are generally better 

 watered than the plains. 



Shippijig Facilities. — After we have grown our fruit we must 

 market it, and here comes in an important item of expense. We 

 should take into consideration, not only the distance of the orchard 

 from the railroad station, but if possible get within reach of com- 

 peting lines of railroad, and thus secure the lowest possible freight 

 rates. 



With these points firmly fixed in our minds M^e are ready to in- 

 telligently consider what to plant. 



APPLES. 



I. SOIL. 



Apple trees will thrive and do well in almost any well drained, 

 well prepared soil. A deep, strong, sandy or gravelly loam with open 

 sub-soil is generally recommended, but the best results have beeo 

 obtained in this State on soils formed by the breaking down of shale. 

 Good reports come from gray, red and yellow shale lands. Sueh a 



