Tjik Bullktin 11 



cilities, while the ttrm ''site'' refers to the looal position of a particular 

 planting as regards elevation, exposure, and soil conditions. 



For one expecting to engage in commercial peach growing, the choos- 

 ing of the proper location cannot be too strongly empliasized. To 

 attain the greatest success, the orcliard must be located in a region 

 that possesses both favorable climatic and soil conditions for the pro- 

 duction of peaches. It is equally important to locate the orchard in 

 a section advantageously situated as regards markets and transporta- 

 tion facilities. The prospective planter should select a section that is 

 relatively free from late spring frost, and one that affords the best 

 markets and the cheapest and most efficient freight rates and refrig- 

 erator car service. 



Site. — After once deciding upon a particular section, the prospective 

 peach grower is confronted with the choice of the orchard site in the 

 section. The most important factors in determining the value of a 

 site are elevation, exposure, and soil. 



An elevation considerably above the surrounding area is to be desired 

 to afford loth water and atmospheric drainage, primarily the latter. 

 It is not so much the height of the elevation, but the relative heiglit 

 above the surrounding country which should be sufficient to afford good 

 atmospheric drainage. By atmospheric drainage is meant the draining 

 away of cold, frost-laden air, just as water drains from higher to lower 

 levels. Cold, frost-laden air settles or flows from a higher elevation to 

 a lower. This" accounts for the fact that peaches are often produced 

 by trees on hillsides while those in the valleys or at lower levels have 

 their blossoms or fruits destroyed by frost. In a section of hilly or 

 mountainous topography it is often noticed that the vegetation on the 

 lower ]iart of the mountain is killed by frost while above this frost- 

 killed section there is a belt, which is termed a thermal belt, where 

 the vegetation is unharmed. This condition is explained by the phe- 

 nomenon of atmospheric drainage. "While there arc some very success- 

 ful orchards on nearly level land, it is best to choose a slope, every- 

 thing else being equal, for planting a peach orchard on an elevation 

 is one of the best means of insuring against frost. An elevation insures 

 better air circulation in summer, which means higher colored fruit 

 and less damage bv rot. A site which is exposed to strong prevailing 

 winds is not desirable, because the young trees will be badly blown 

 about before they become established in the soil. It is more difficult 

 and more expensive to spray an orchard expo.-vd to stormy winds, and 

 the loss from breakage of limbs and blowing off of fruit is greater. 



The slope or exposure of an orchard site is the direction toward 

 which the land slopes or inclines. As regards an exposure, it is not 

 so much the direction of the slope, but that the peach orchard should 

 be planted on a slope of some degree, in some direction rather than on 



