238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



CHOICE OF SOIL, LOCATION AND EXPOSURE FOR THE 

 COMMERCIAL APPLE ORCHARD. 



BY GEO. P. CAMPBELL, BLOOMINGTON. 



I can't hope to say anything on this old subject that will be new to 

 any member of the Indiana Horticultural Society, but it may be the 

 means of bringing out a discussion that Avill be of more benefit than 

 anything I may say on the subject. 



I have had occasion to ride over considerable of my own county this 

 summer, and I haA'e noticed a good many orchards, some on low gi'ound 

 and some on the hilltop. Some were thrifty and doing well; others were 

 sickly and stunted, and it seemed that the location or soil had veiy little 

 to do with it. I asked some questions in regard to the different orchards. 

 Some would say in regard to the sickly ones that they had got poor trees 

 from the nursery and the nurseryman and the agent would generally 

 get a blessing. Others said the children had left the gate unfastened, and 

 the cows had got in and done the pruning, which was not usually a very 

 satisfactory job. There was always some excuse for the trees not showing 

 up better. 



In regard to the other fellow who had the thrifty orchard, he would 

 tell of the care he had taken in putting out his trees, how he had culti- 

 vated and fertilized them, and he always seemed proud of his orchard. 



After being assigned this subject, I began to study the question more 

 than I ever had before, and I asked myself the question. Is there not as 

 much in the man as in soil and location, after all? If he loves his ti-ees 

 and the work connected with making them thrive, he will make a suc- 

 cess if the soil and location are not the best. I will say, hoAvever, that I 

 am not much of a believer in the idea adA^anced by some that any poor 

 hillside will gi-ow good apples. 



There are very fcAv farmers Avho have an ideal place for an extensive 

 commercial apple orchard. I would select a north and east slope of ele- 

 vated land, naturally well drained, if possible. The soil should be sufll- 

 ciently fertile to grow good wheat or corn. The red clay limestone soil 

 that Ave haA^e throughout the southern pai't of the State seems best adapt- 

 ed to the groAA'ing of fine apples. It gives better color and flavor than 

 sandy or the black, loamy soils. 



I will give my reasons for selecting a north and east slope. The soil 

 is usually stronger and more porous, holding moisture better. The sun 

 does not have the effect of thawing the sap on the southAvest side of the 

 trees during a cold snap in Avinter, sometimes causing the bark to burst. 

 AA^hich is sure to ruin the tree. The trees remain dormant longer hi the 

 spring so that the fruit buds are not so liable to be killed by the late 



