INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 239 



frosts. I Imve often noticed that the forest trees on the north slope were 

 larger and more thrifty than those on the south. The finest walnut, pop- 

 lar and oak are to be found on the north hillside. Trees that stand fair 

 to Old Sol's rays are more liable to be hollow and have dead and dam- 

 aged limbs, while the same kind of a tree on the other side of the hill 

 will be solid and thrifty. 



It is well to study nature, and where you find nature doing the best 

 for trees, there is a good place to plant the apple orchard. There are 

 not very many that can have just such soil and location as that I have 

 described, and some may think I would not have them plant an orchard, 

 but such is not the case. 1 think any one who loves trees and good ap- 

 ples will have them, for if nature has not provided a suitable location, 

 he will use artificial means. He may have to drain the soil and study 

 its composition to find out if it is lacking in any of the elements that 

 the tree needs to make well-flavored and highly colored apples. 



I have noticed that once in a long while there will be a good apple 

 crop on low bottom lands and none on the hill land. A few years ago 

 there was as fine apples grown on some of the lowlands of Monroe Coun- 

 ty as I ever saw, while they were practically a failure on the higher soils. 



I have a friend who owns two farms, one on what is known as Salt 

 Creek bottom, the other is about foiu' miles from any watercourse and 

 on elevated land. Last year he had a good crop of apples on the ele- 

 vated land and none on the bottom farm; this j^ear it is just the reverse. 



It may be that I have not stuck as close to my subject as the ones 

 who gave it to me expected or wished, but I hope the subject will be 

 thoroughly discussed at this meeting, for I believe there is no State 

 that can grow finer apples than Southern Indiana. 



LOCATION AND E'XrOSURE FOR THE COMMERCIAL APPLE 

 ORCHARD, AND CHOICE OF SOILS. 



BY RILEY O. CASE, LAGRANGE. 



Much depends upon location and exposure of the commercial apple 

 orchard. Elevation is preferred, that the trees may have plenty of drain- 

 age and the fruit not be injured by frost, the latter often occurring on 

 lower ground. For summer apples, a southern slope is preferred; for win- 

 ter, a slightly northern slope is best. 



In our section of the State, orchards located around or near the lakes 

 bear most fruit, and the fruit has the best color. I know of an orchard 

 located on the north side of a small lake that bears fruit annually. And 

 your vice-president has told me he has taken a number of premiums from 



