STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 219 



First on the list to be chosen is a site near a body of water, of suffi- 

 cient size to modify the extreme changes to which this climate is 

 subject. But this cannot be chosen* by many. Second is a site on 

 as high land as possible, not too steep to be worked easily, and the 

 fruit gathered without trouble. Then choose first an eastern or 

 northeastern exposure; using the south and southwest as the last 

 choice. I make this last statement for the reason that I consider 

 the greatest hardships our trees have to encounter, and the most 

 permanent injuries they sustain are those caused by the hot rays of 

 the sun in early spring, causing the sap to flow before cold weather 

 has ceased, and producing more evaporation than the forces of the 

 tree are able to withstand after one of our cold winters. We know 

 that in order to mature our crops in the short seasons in this lati- 

 tude, very hot weather is a necessity, and as the sun lingers later 

 in the south and southwest, are my reasons for saying it is the most 

 unfavorable site. I think if the sun shines hot in early spring, 

 causing the sap to flow and producing great evaporation, and after- 

 ward freezes hard, it affects the tree in the same manner, or on the 

 same principle that a man or horse will suffer injury from a sudden 

 change to cold weather while in a state of warmth or perspiration. 



Knowing as I do that trees prosper and grow better in any other 

 exposure than the one last described, still I say, other things being 

 equal, you can by using proper care grow trees and fruit on any 

 exposure. 



Next in order comes protection, a point on which I am well 

 aware that doctors and experienced tree planters disagree. First, 

 I will say if you have timber on the north and northwest, the 

 source of our prevailing cold winds, do not cut it away on purpose 

 to expose your orchard to the chilling blasts. Neither would 

 I recommend planting the orchard too near the timber; say not 

 nearer than twenty or thirty rods, for the reason I believe the 

 growing orchard needs a full and free circulation of air, to grow 

 fine fruit and protect it from the ravages of insects which abound 

 much more in thickly-planted and protected orchards than others. 

 Next, timber and under brush affords a hiding pfece for rabbits 

 and mice, which do so much mischief to the orchard when the 

 ground is covered with snow; on the other hand, if you have no 

 timber protection, plant a row of Miner plums fifteen feet apart on 

 the north side of the orchard, and a row of DeSoto plum trees on 

 the west side, the same distance apart, then plant your hardiest 

 trees next to these rows, and scatter through the orchard an occa- 

 sional Scotch pine or Norway spruce for ornament and to soften 



