226 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SITE AND SOIL FOR AN ORCHARD. 



The success and profitableness of an orchard depends so largely upon 

 the site and soil that it behooves the prospective fruit grower to give to 

 these features careful consideration, before he ventures into the business. 



The site for an orchard should not be low or level, but should be more 

 or less rolling and have an elevation somewhat higher than is common 

 to the vicinity or section. Such a site supplies good air drainage. Cold 

 air is heavier than warm air and always sinks to lower levels, hence 

 low grounds are more subject to frosts and severe winter freezing. Such 

 disastrous results as occurred at the time of the February freeze of 1899 

 and the October freeze of 1906. are still fresh in the minds of many 

 Michigan fruit growers who had orchards on low, level lands. Many 

 of the orchards, which had until these times been very successful, were 

 practically destroyed. Even on higher lands, pockets must be avoided 

 because cold air settles in them and cannot get out. It is not necessary 

 that a site be extremely hilly or that the orchard be located upon high 

 hill tops. In many cases it would be better to avoid hill tops on account 

 of their exposure to winds and their tendency to severe soil washing. 

 Abrupt hillsides should also be avoided because of the difficulties en- 

 countered in spraying, tillage and harvesting. 



The slope and exposure of a site has some bearing upon its desira- 

 bility for the planting of an orchard. Generally a south slope has a 

 lighter soil and warms earlier in the spring than a northern or eastern 

 exposure. This induces earliness in blossoming and ripening of fruit, 

 which is sometimes desirable. On the other hand, trees on a southern 

 exposure are much more subject to winter killing and sunscald. Gen- 

 erally, northern or eastern exposures are preferred by fruit growers, 

 because they usually have strong soils, are more retentive of moisture, 

 and are not so susceptible to winter injury or late spring frosts. 



It must be understood that some fruits are hardier than others. The 

 apricot is so tender that it seldom does well in Michigan. As long as 

 winters are mild it may do fairly well, but it is almost certain to be 

 killed by the first severe winter, e\en though planted on the most favor- 

 able location. The peach is nearly as tender, while the plum follows 

 very closely. Apples, pears and quinces are not as tender or as sensitive 

 to extremes of cold as peaches and plums, and hence it is not as impera- 

 tive that they be given such careful consideration in the location of a 

 site for an orchard. Their blossoming later in the spring is also another 

 point in their favor. 



The different fruits require different types of soil, but all do their best 

 on a strong, deej). well-drained soil. Trees cannot thrive upon soils 

 that are depleted, shallow, or poor in texture, where an impervious hard- 

 pan is near the surface, or where they have "wet feet." Examples of 



