AN APPLE ORCHARD SURVEY OF WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK. 319 



than is required on any of the other types. The Miami stony loam is 

 next strongest. The other types require larger applications of manure, 

 but give good results when so treated. These latter are more open and 

 are more in need of humus. The soil with the bed-rock near the surface 

 is entirely unsuited to apples. For the best production of apples, there 

 should be at least six feet of well-drained soil in every part of the orchard. 



Drainage. 



The condition of the natural drainage. In selecting a soil for an 

 orchard, more important than chemical or physical composition is the 



FIG. 68. In the center of a 35-acre orchard that is on a hill. Several acres have 

 been gradually killed and many more damaged by ground water. This land has 

 grown up to vveeds and gives no income. It could easily be drained. 



question of drainage. No well-drained soils were found in the county 

 that were not producing good crops of apples when properly cared for. 



The majority of the orchards are on fairly well drained land. A large 

 number would be benefited by underdrainage, but in some cases the bene- 

 fit would not be great enough to pay. Some orchards have been set on 

 such wet. land that they have entirely failed; others have one corner 

 extending down into a low place where drainage is needed; others are 

 divided by small " draws " that need underdrains. Where the orchards 

 are on steep hillsides it might seem as if underdrainage would be 

 unnecessary, but there are many places where the seepage water calls for 

 drains. In other places the long slopes accumulate such a large volume 



