FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 93 



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

 tive to extremes of cold as peaches and plnnis, 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 an- 

 other point in their favor. 



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

 best on a strong, deep, well drained soil. Trees cannot thrive upon soils 

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

 hardpan is near the surface or where they have "wet feet." Examples 

 of failures due to these conditions are not uncommon. Stunted trees 

 or blank spaces in the low spots of an orchard usually indicate poor 

 soil or jDoor air drainage or both. 



Artificial drainage may sometimes be resorted to in order to make 

 a location suitable for an orchard but ordinarily such a procedure is 

 not satisfactory^, especially in a commercial orchard. For a home or- 

 chard, which it is highly desirable to have near the house, artificial 

 drainage is frequently used to take advantage of a desirable location. 



A soil can be too dry for fruit trees. Such is the condition of some 

 of Michigan's soil, which is so porous and devoid of humus that it can- 

 not retain moisture. Trees on such soil invariably lack in vigor, pro- 

 ductivity and hardiness. In the case of peaches. "Either extreme of 

 moisture — excessive wetness or excessive dryness — gives favorable con- 

 ditions for winter killing. The wet soil is conducive to sappiness in a 

 tree and also freezes deeply. Severe cold, especially if alternating 

 with warm weather, or accompanied with dry winds, causes evaporation 

 of water from the trees, and if the soil be so dry as not to furnish moist- 

 ure to replace the evaporated water, harmful results ensue." 



The soil that is shallow, devoid of plant food, cannot be expected to 

 produce an orchard and keep it in vigorous health and productivity. 

 While plant food can be added to the soil it is a factor which the or- 

 chardists must not overlook or underestimate, because it is just as neces- 

 sary that an orchard produce a good strong growth in the first few years 

 of its existence as after it comes into bearing. Scores of orchards in 

 Michigan, today, are unliealthy and unproductive simply because they 

 were planted upon soils deficient in plant food. 



Soils best adapted to apples may vary from a rich, sandy loam to 

 a clay loam, while pears prefer a clay loam or a pure clay, provided it 

 is of a good texture. Plums and cherries usually do best'on a medium 

 loam, and peaches on a soil ranging from a sandy nature to a medium 

 clay loam. While it is conceded that the nature of a soil may be in- 

 fluenced greatly and its adaptability to different fruits made possible 

 to a greater or less extent by the use of lime, manures and commercial 

 fertilizers, yet it is important to emphasize the wisdom cf selecting a 

 soil best suited to the fruit that is expected to be raised or to plant 

 only those fruits best suited to the soil one already has. 



