No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 198 



plant many varieties that originated farther south, with the as- 

 surance that their season will be lengthened. He should also bear, 

 in mind that altitude is a factor of considerable importance. 



To be successful in fruit growing, several very essential things 

 must be observed: 



LOCATION. 



In setting out a home orchard, convenience to the buildings takes 

 precedence. Any piece of land lying adjacent to the buildings 

 and not too wet, is given preference. But for a commercial orchard 

 it becomes a business proposition, which means success or failure; 

 therefore, location is looked into carefully. Never take a low, flat- 

 bottom land on which water stands part of the year, or through 

 which a slow sluggish stream runs, the danger of winter killing 

 and late spring frosts is too great. Select a gentle, sloping hill- 

 side in preference. Cut away all close surrounding forest. Many 

 think a windbreak on the north and west will be a great protec- 

 tion. Have you not noticed the terminals and bloom always suffer 

 most, close to the wood and in the valleys, because they interfere 

 with air-drainage which equalizes the temperature, lessening the 

 danger from frost during the blossoming period? We never fear 

 frost on a windy night; so where we have good air drainage, the air, 

 as it becomes cool becomes heavier, and runs down the same as 

 water, to be replaced by the warmer air from below. This causes 

 an agitation of the atmosphere, and removes the danger of frost. 

 A thermometer placed at the higher point registers considerably 

 higher than one placed at the foot of the hill. The meadows and 

 valleys will be covered with frosts, when but a few feet higher 

 none will be visible. 



Exposure. — Opinions differ greatly; some advocate a southern 

 exposure as being less liable to injury by our severe winters; others 

 prefer a northern exposure, claiming it retards the flow of sap in 

 Spring, preventing the buds from starting should there be several 

 warm days during March, which if followed by severe cold, would 

 freeze the tender buds. 1 have every exposure, N., S., E. and W., 

 in my apple and peach orchards. I find no difference in time of 

 blooming or danger from cold, as I have had no failure so far in 

 35 years from any of these causes, on any exposure. It all depends 

 on the condition; if your trees are well fed, cultivated, pruned and 

 attended as they should be, you need not fear damage or loss, "un- 

 less the winter is unusually severe, reaching 20 to 30 degrees be- 

 low zero. 



SOIL. 



The apple is a gross feeder, but adapts itself to circumstances. 

 It thrives upon our mountain ranges; in the limestone valley on. 

 the sandstone and shales; upon the alluvial deposit in our river 

 bottoms; the vast prairies; from the granite hills of New England, 

 to latitude 32; from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast; the apple 

 does well, but all varieties do not thrive equally as well in all these 

 locations. Every locality has some particular variety that seems 

 especially adapted to that section. And it is important that the 

 orchardist familiarizes himself with the nature and habit of each 

 variety, that he may select such varieties as are best adapted to 



