70 



flank by other hills or wind breaks of forest or strips of 

 planted trees. Without going into a full discussion of the 

 advantages and disadvantages of wind breaks, it is suffi- 

 cient to say that in most localities they are a decided ad- 

 vantage. They afford the desired protection to the trees 

 during the winter a;id prevent breaking of the branches 

 when the trees are loaded with fruit or coated with ice. 

 They prevent severe losses by wind storms when the fruit is 

 approaching maturity and liable to be blown from the trees. 

 Wind breaks should be located on the side of the orchard 

 toward the prevailing winds, or on decided slopes should be 

 located along the top and sides rather than at the lower 

 edge of the plantation. Where locations face the water, 

 the wind breaks must be at the end farthest from the water 

 and along the sides of the orchard. Where the orchard is 

 exposed to bleak winter winds, it may be an advantage to 

 plant several lines of evergreen trees across it. Wind 

 breaks may consist of a considerable variety of trees, but 

 for this region, I recommend Norway spruce and white pine. 



Preparation of Land for Planting 



Undrained soils must first be ditched or tile-drained. 

 We may assume, however, that with the number of suitable 

 sites for orchards at the disposal of the Massachusetts fruit 

 grower, it will not be necessary to do much artificial drain- 

 ing. 



Where conditions will permit of it, one season should 

 be given to preliminary preparation of the land. This will 

 consist in deep and thorough plo"wing. preferably with the 

 cultivation of corn or potatoes, and the application of a 

 generous supply of stable or commercial fertilizer. The 

 quantity should be sufficient to grow a first-class crop of 

 corn or potatoes and leave some for the future orchard. 

 If the land is not too steep, it should be plowecl late in the 

 fall after the crop has been removed and left exposed to 

 the frosts and rain of winter. On steep lands a catch or 

 cover crop of rye may follow the crop removed, thus pre- 

 venting washing down during the winter. The land should 

 be plowed again in the spring, just as early as it can be 

 worked and put into the best possible planting condition. 



For planters who do not wish to grow farm crops in the 

 preliminary preparation of the land and whose soils are in 

 need of cultiva'ion and fer'iliza'im. T w )n]d r v- ^iMnv^nd 



