time of the year. At the same time, proximity to the sea carries these good 

 qualities to an extreme, reducing the summer temperature so greatly that grapes, 

 peaches, and other fruits requiring high temperatures in summer, do not thrive, 

 and winter apples take a long time to properly mature. 



The slope of the land is important. A reasonably level orchard costs less to 

 operate. On the Coast, the most desirable slope for practically all kinds of fruit 

 is that to the south or south-west v eo as to secure the benefit of all the sun possible. 

 In the Dry Belt, such an exposure lends itself too readily to sun-scald, and on 

 extreme south-west slopes this may become quite serious, even with low-headed 

 trees and hardy varieties. Too great a slope increases the cost of irrigation (and 

 the danger of washing), as does an uneven slope or an absolute absence of it. 

 Grading is often necessary in irrigation districts to ensure a proper flow of water. 

 A slope to the east or south-east renders the fruit, plums especially, more susceptible 

 to spring frosts, and so is not desirable where spring frosts are liable to be prevalent. 



Elevation above the low-lying land of a district greatly facilitates air-drainage, 

 and so assists in avoiding spring frosts in every district, while on the Coast, as 

 stated above, it helps materially in securing freedom from fog. 



In districts with prevailing winds or heavy, winds from any particular direction, 

 it is desirable to have the orchard protected from such exposure, or if an orchard 

 is planted in such a location, the varieties should be those which resist such condi- 

 tions to best advantage. The Wealthy, Mclntosh, Snow, and some other varieties 

 drop readily before maturity in a high wind, while others, such a*s the Crabs, 

 Wagener, Winter Banana, Yellow Newtown, and Golden Russet hang well to the 

 trees under such circumstances. Transcendent crab, in the Interior, and Hyslop 

 crab, on the Coast, are good varieties for the exposed side of the orchard. 



While on the Coast a slope down to the water and facing south-westerly is, 

 as a general rule, most desirable for apples, for strawberries it may be detrimental, 

 because of the exposure to ( the prevalent south-west wind of that section. In the 

 Interior, it is a general rule that a slope down to an open body of water should 

 be chosen ; where this is available, the other considerations as to site are secondary. 



(5.) FEUIT-GKOWING SOILS. 



The Province has soils of a great many types. Speaking generally, in the 

 whole of the Coast region the soils which are suitable for fruit-growing are nearly 

 all of glacial origin, while in the Interior practically all are of an ancient alluvial 

 character, either being on the floor of prehistoric lakes, or the wash of more recent 

 mountain-streams. In both cases there is a wide variation of type, whose influence 

 on fruit-growing we are just beginning to understand. Much in this respect has 

 yet to be learned by experience, but we are able to make some definite recommenda- 

 tions at this time. 



(6.) THE TYPE OF SOIL. 



On light or sandy soils, early maturing fruits and those whose roots naturally 

 require a light soil, such as peaches, plums, and apricots, are likely to do best. On 

 the clay loams and slightly heavier soils, many varieties of apples are thriving to 

 their greatest perfection, while pears prefer distinctly heavy soils. Clay soils, with 

 heavy clay subsoils, are not at all suitable when they do not yield up their moisture 

 readily to the tree or to the plant, and on such soils strawberries are extremely 

 likely to suffer from want of moisture, even though a great deal may be present. 

 As strawberries, however, require a considerable amount of moisture, the soil should 

 be retentive in character. Blackberries and currants prefer a low, moist, fairly 

 heavy soil, while raspberries require it well drained, but still deep and moist. Under 

 irrigation conditions these factors are all modified somewhat, but the type of soil 

 is one which should be given due consideration in the planting of all kinds of fruits. 



There has been very much indiscriminate planting of fruits on very light, 

 gravelly, or open soils, on which trees may do well for a few years with sufficient 

 cultivation or water, but where eventually failure seems certain. Soils of basaltic 

 origin or of quartz are likely to be open and poor in potash, while those of feldspathic 



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