60 ORCHARDS. 



Another gentleman observed, that during a hard "winter he 

 saw a particular tree, in a row of the same kind and growth, 

 preserved through the mere accident of its having been paved 

 with oyster shells. 



It is also to be remarked that the southwestern mountains 

 of Piedmont Virginia, which are not very high, are noted for 

 the production of fine fruit.* 



The apple, peach, pear, and cherry arrive at the greatest 

 perfection, not only on all the hills, declivities, and valleys 

 adjacent, but from foot to top, on both north and south sides of 

 these mountains. As fine fruit grows on the north sides and 

 top as can be produced m any country. It is also observable 

 that a line, thermal belt, perhaps, it might be called, ranging 

 about midway the south sides of the mountains expand vege- 

 tation some eight or ten days earlier than at the lowest or 

 highest parts, being sheltered from the high north and north- 

 west winds of the one and the vernal frosts of the other. 



A correspondent, when writing a friend in Albemarle county, 

 in the section above referred to, states that he found all the 

 peaches had been killed by frost in the peach orchards in the 

 valley near the mansion, while they had escaped, and were 

 bearing in great abundance at another part of the estate higher 

 up the side of the neighboring mountain. 



With respect to soil any common field, or pasture, which 

 produces abundant crops of corn, grass, or culinary vegeta- 

 bles, may be chosen for laying out an orchard. If it be of a 

 rich loamy nature, it will be of great advantage ; though any 

 soil of good quality may be prepared for the purpose ; but it 

 must be neither too wet or heavy; nor too light or dry; it 

 should be soft, easily worked, and have at least one spade deep 

 of vegetable mould. 



Cole, in his American Fruit Book, says, " soils have a pow- 

 erful effect in the modification of fruit, so much that some are 

 large, fair, and of the greatest excellence on one soil and 



*An intelligent Pennsylvanian who had paid great attention to fruit, 

 and who had traveled through many States of the Union, recently stated 

 that he regarded the Piedmont region of Virginia as decidedly the best 

 portion of the United States for the production of fine apples. 



