140 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PLANTING ORCHARDS IN MICHIGAN. 



Reprinted from Bulletin No. 262. 



This bulletin has been prepared to meet the constant and growing 

 demand for information on the general snbject of planting orchards in 

 Michigan. It has been written by Mr. O. K. White, Field Agent in 

 Horticulture, and is based upon his experience and observations as a 

 successful fruit grower. 



In the discussion of varieties an effort has been made to avoid techni- 

 cal terms in describing the tree and fruit, and to mention such merits, 

 faults and peculiarities of the varieties as may be useful to any one who 

 has to decide the important question of selecting them. The list pre- 

 sented has been carefully examined and a]iproved by Mr. Benton Geb- 

 hardt, of Hart, Oceana county, one of the most successful and experi- 

 enced fruit growers in Michigan. 



H. J. EUSTACE, 



Horticulturist. 



SITE AND SOIL FOR AN ORCHARD. 



The success and profitableness of an orcliard depends so largely ui)on 

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

 these features careful consideration, before he ventures into the busi- 

 ness. 



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 190G, are still fresh in the minds of many 

 Michigan fruit growers who had orchards on low level lands. ]\Iany 

 of the orchai-ds, which had until these times been very successful, were 

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

 becouse 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 Avould 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 exjiosure of a site has some bearing upon its desir- 

 ability 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 



