Thj5 Apple in Oregon: Part I. 115 



The diversity of geological foi'matlon and exposure In the apple-growing dis- 

 tricts of Oregon render this topic of aspect a peculiarly interesting one. In some 

 sections little attention aside from that given to heavy winds is necessary ; in 

 other sections the southern exposures, while desirable in many respects, are liable 

 to have a thin soil underlaid by Impervious rock : in still other sections the north- 

 ern slopes, ideal in several features, have a soil, rich, deep, full of humus, very 

 moist, and thus prone to keep the tree growing too late in the season, and unduly 

 retard the bursting of the Inids in the spring; and in yet other sections the aspect 

 is quite a matter of indift'erence, as in the Kogae and Grande Konde Uiver Valleys 

 proper. 'But upon the bench lands of these sections, when more attention is given 

 to the planting of orchards upon them, due attention to aspect will he of no little 

 importance, and may be a deciding factor between success and failure with par- 

 ticular varieties. Especially in Rogue River Valley would it appear that the later 

 keeping varieties will demand the cooler northern exposures, while the earlier va- 

 rieties will do best upon the southern and eastern slopes. 



In the Willamette Valley, except in the districts tributary to the "gaps" in 

 the coast mountains, through which strong sea breezes issue, a southern aspect 

 would seem generally desirable, providing it is not on a hillside with thin soil. 

 The general low altitude of the valley, together with the average high humidity, 

 makes an open or southern aspect desirable, since under such conditions fruit will 

 tend to take on a higher color, an item of considerable importance in the commer- 

 •cial part of the crop. For early or mid-season varieties, however, and particularly 

 those for home use. where one attaches more importance to fine specimens with 

 clear skins, mellow flesh, and juiciness, and where several days or a week's time in 

 the date of ripening does not detract from the value of the product, a northern, 

 western or sheltered aspect may be of first choice. 



While high color is usually a feature of much commercial value in the apple, 

 those who have formed a discriminating taste and grow fruit for their own use. 

 give it but passing notice. Thus it is that the aspect most desirable for the com- 

 mercial orchard may be of but secondary importance to the home orchardist. 



As much of the autumn weather in Western Oregon is of low. light value, 

 owing to the humidity, it is necessary to use considerable discretion when select- 

 ing a site for the growing of a commercial apple crop of the late keeping varieties, 

 if one would have a high colored product one year with another. Judicious wood 

 pruning and thinning of fruit will materially aid in enabling the fruit to get the 

 most advantage from the light available. 



SELECTION OF TKEES AND PLANTING. 



The proper selection and planting of trees is an important part in the starting 

 of an orchard. 



Tree Ideals FauUji — At the outset it may be said that our general ideas of 

 the character of a first-class tree are quite faulty. Each variety of fruit tree 

 is more or less characteristic in its form of growth — "habit," as it is often termed — 

 and it is fortunate that this is so, else what a monotonous appearance our orchard 

 plantations would assume. To this fact, that each variety possesses a characteris- 

 tic habit, we should give more than passing attention when selecting trees for a 

 new orchard. For, in order to obtain flrst-class trees for planting, and none other 

 should be used, the orchardist must have a knowledge of the "points" of a good 

 tree of the variety under consideration. Some trees while in the nursery assume 

 an erect, strict habit, with an even, regular taper ; others are kinky, irregular in 

 the direction of ascent, and having an uneven taper ; and still others are short, 

 thick and inclined to branch. Yet. notwithstanding this wide divergence of char- 

 acter, these trees may all be flrst-class. The character or habit of the variety must 

 be fully studied, and then trees possessing a strong inclination to follow the type 

 habit should be selected. Oftentimes no better source of Information on these 

 points can be found than the nurseryman. It is his business to study trees. If the 

 market sets, as it often does, in its misguided demand, a general uniform require- 



